ARVIAT
Joe Karetak and his son Joe Jr. (Nap), 16, are being attended to by search-and-rescue technicians from a Hercules helicopter after the helicopter trying to reach them crashed through the ice after landing.
The two became stuck on an ice flow while out seal hunting about 10-km east of Arviat.
Helicopters from Quebec and Alberta are on route to the scene.
A person close to the situation, who did not want to be identified, said two search-and-rescue technicians from the Hercules aircraft also at the scene parachuted down to the ice floe after realizing things had gone bad with the rescue.
"All information we have at this point indicated the two hunters and the helicopter are OK and are being treated by the SAR technicians," said the person close to the situation.
"There are a number of people in Arviat reportedly leaving the community to see if they can reach the floe edge to see if they can be reached by boat.
"But, with temperatures around -35 C that's a long shot as the motors won't be able to handle the cold."
A published statement by marine controller Chris Armour said nothing has been confirmed and efforts are focused on trying to get more information and remove those involved from the situation.
