RANKIN INLET/BAKER LAKE
A man who went missing on the land while trying to reach his job by snowmobile has been found safe and sound, however the ongoing search for a Baker Lake elder was called off yesterday, May 21.
Search and rescue (SAR) members located Michel Pilon of Timmins, Ont., near Agnico-Eagle's Meliadine camp at about 10:30 p.m. on May 16.
He was transported from the Meliadine camp to the Kivalliq Regional Health Centre in Rankin Inlet for observation.
Pilon was reported missing on May 14, when the Boart Longyear employee failed to appear at his drilling rig about three km southwest of AgnicoEagle's Meliadine gold project near Rankin.
Search operations had to be suspended overnight on May 15 due to blizzard conditions, but resumed again on May 16 despite still bad conditions out on the land.
AgnicoEagle said the man's family has been notified that he's been found safe.
Meanwhile, SAR members ended their search for elder Alvin Kannak, 72, of Baker Lake during its 14th day.
The elder fell off the qamutiik being driven by his grandson as they travelled home to Baker from Rankin Inlet on May 7.
It's estimated the two had completed a little more
than half of their daylong trip to Baker when the elder fell.
Footprints were reportedly found on the evening of May 12 near the Gibson Lake area, about two hours from Baker by snowmobile.
SAR members from Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet and Whale Cove were involved in the search with the RCMP.
The elder had only the clothes he was wearing when he went missing, but was known to be highly skilled on the land.
