2-day search leads to missing Nunavik traveller
Snowmobile breakdown stops Mosusie Tukkiapik in his tracks while travelling from Salluit to Puvirnituq
A man reported missing after leaving Salluit on a snowmobile has been found safe after a two-day search, Nunavik police say. (File photo)
A 21-year-old man who was reported missing while travelling from Salluit to Puvirnituq has been found after a two-day search.
Mosusie Tukkiapik left Salluit on April 4 at around 4 p.m., travelling alone on a Bombardier snowmobile, according to the Nunavik Police Service.
With a full tank of gas and an extra 10-litre canister, he had enough fuel to make it to Puvirnituq and back, a round-trip distance of about 500 kilometres, police said.
About three hours after departing, Tukkiapik sent a message through a Starlink connection confirming he had reached the Kovik area about 90 kilometres from Akulivik.
That was the last communication he sent, though, and he didn’t reach Puvirnituq.
On April 5 at around 11 a.m., the search and rescue team in Salluit was notified and two members left at 2:30 p.m. to make a first attempt to locate Tukkiapik, police say.
The pair reached Kovik that night, contacting their team to report they hadn’t found Tukkiapik but would follow his snowmobile tracks.
Meanwhile, Nunavik police contacted search-and-rescue in both Puvirnituq and Akulivik to seek their help, but both declined. Their contact in Puvirnituq said the place where Tukkiapik was last seen was too far away for them to help.
Police also struck out in getting help from other agencies.
A Canadian Armed Forces plane was scheduled to fly to the area but had to be cancelled, Quebec provincial police couldn’t get a Starlink or satellite tower connection for communication, and the Canadian Rangers were unable to deploy until the next day.
Around noon on April 6, a de Havilland Twin Otter plane carrying a police officer and seven other passengers searched the area of Akulivik, Inukjuak and Kovik.
They found snowmobile tracks, but still no sign of Tukkiapik.
Finally, four searchers from Salluit, including two Rangers, joined the first team that had gone out to look and at 10:45 p.m. they found Tukkiapik alive and well.
In an interview, Nunavik Police Services deputy Chief Jean-François Morin said a belt in the motor of Tukkiapik’s snowmobile broke, disabling the machine, and he had not brought a spare.
He should pay back every cent from that rescue. In-reach and spot devices are everywhere. Use them.
Allways carry extra parts for a long haul trip, at least , he had communications
When will the Inuit learn. Travelling a long distance they know you must have an extra skidoo belt, extra gas and other survival gear. It is time for the governments of canada to start charging the Inuit who are lost instead of the taxpayers of canada paying their bills for not using common sense. Do not travel alone!
That’s right it’s only us Inuit that never learn right?!
Let me tell you; it happens to everyone.
Everyone should be educated on preventative measures for safety and for “just incase” scenarios either from experienced hunters and/or mechanics from break-downs.
Everyone.
Where do you think today’s Inuits gets their education from? Everything Inuit know today is a white mans lifestyle. White man teach Inuk man gets lost.
Bewildered. To all who read the comments. This is Bewildered One. I did not make the above comment. The word Inuits is wrong. There is no term as Inuits. I guess the person who made the above comment does not know or understand the Inuit Language, Sorry Bewildered with a period. I guess some people has to get their facts checked before making a comment.
Don’t teach new tricks to those that know it all in the first place, like old dogs , they won’t learn. But, if they’re stupid enough , they learn any old thing , you teach them. We should teach people this : don’t be gullible and learn what you shouldn’t. So: is it the white teacher, or is it the Inuit? Who tells who, what to do, and without question, they do it.
“Nunavik police contacted search-and-rescue in both Puvirnituq and Akulivik to seek their help, but both declined”
Unbelievable.
I m sure , it was the case , ”how much are we getting paid ? ”
“Their contact in Puvirnituq said the place where Tukkiapik was last seen was too far away for them to help”.
.
Unbelievable.
This is so fake because when the search was on going there was local men from Puvirnituq searching for Mosusie and also a Canadian Ranger from Puvirnituq had announced on the Radio that there will be a search on going and had advised the community, so who’s telling the truth??
Is this a new protocol? The Nunavik Police Service are now responsible for the coordination of search and rescues with neighboring communities and the SQ?
Thank goodness he is found! But where do we find a manual on ‘How to live like an Inuk?’ Anyone?
They know not which way the wind is blowing. Inuit today are not as knowledgeable about going out and enduring a comfortable living and enjoying the land. It’s more about tearing the guts out snowmobile and equipment. Building an igloo, is better learnt somewhere in places like Quebec City of Toronto at a festival rather than out there. Personally I wouldn’t allow my dog to be accompanied by today’s idiots we see going around drugged or drunk. Running out of booze and drugs being dictating whether they go or come.
We can’t help… some SAR people are still in bed and others playing PubG.
It doesn’t happen to Inuit only, it happened in Kuujjuaq not to long ago a white guy travelling back from Shefferville to Kuujjuaq alone , the chopper was sent to rescue that one guy, every life matter but people need to smarten up an start using the free in-reach devices that are available in every community in Nunavik.
inReach is free?
Yes, in community of Nunavik, there are in-reach devices that are people can use for free, it’s provided by their municipality. Anyone can go and borrow them, just go to your local Nv office and ask for it. Don’t be shy to do so.
I was stationed at CFB Inuvik (now closed) back in early 70s. Med-Evac departed from Kitikmeot bound for Yellowknife. over a months Ariel search launched. a airplane with qualified pilot lost, an airplane…all forms are lost every year so why be critical to Inuit, jeeze, Alabama mentality… so out-dated.
These comments are extremely ignorant. It can literally happen to anyone. Glad Mosusie is safe.