Rankin Inlet mourns
Three dead after snow machine falls through ice near Whale Cove
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Monday, January 30, 2017
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Two men from Rankin Inlet are dead and one is presumed dead after their snowmobile fell through ice near Whale Cove on Jan. 21.
The group of four from Rankin Inlet were en route to Arviat when their large snow machine, akin to a Bombardier, broke through the ice. RCMP believe the men were transporting a truck and other snowmobiles on a qamutik.
One 27-year-old man from the group of males survived the accident and reported the incident. RCMP received the call around 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 21.
Patrick Kaludjak, 55, was confirmed dead when police and volunteers from Whale Cove arrived at the scene.
The two other men were presumed dead until the morning of Jan. 24 when the RCMP underwater recovery team arrived on site.
"The dive team recovered one male, deceased. The fourth male was not located and is presumed deceased," stated Sgt. David Lawson in a Jan. 25 release. "The recovery operation has been now called off and the families have been notified of the outcome."
The Office of the Chief Coroner ruled drowning as the cause of death, and the manner of death to be accidental, stated the release. Autopsies were not required.
"The Whale Cove RCMP would like to recognize and thank the local volunteers from Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet who assisted throughout this event. They spent countless hours and remained professional throughout the incident and recovery," stated Lawson.
"Our thoughts are with the Kaludjak family and friends during this difficult time."
He extended additional sympathy to all family and hamlets involved.
When contacted in Whale Cove during the recovery, search and rescue teams from both hamlets chose not to comment on the status of the incident.
"It's a tough time," said Rankin Inlet senior administrative officer Justin Merritt. "Whenever there is any tragedy in the community, the community comes together to do its best to help the families."
