Arctic Bay man dies after falling through ice

An arctic Bay man died over the weekend after his skidoo fell through the ice outside the community. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ECGG)

An Arctic Bay man died over the weekend after his skidoo fell through the ice just outside the High Arctic community.

In the early hours of July 5, the 49-year-old man was attempting to retrieve his snowmobile, which was parked about 30 metres from shore.

Someone saw the man, with his skidoo, go through the ice, and called police and searchers to the scene, Nunavut RCMP said in a July 6 release.

Shortly into the search, a local resident put on a wetsuit, dove in, and pulled the man from the water.

But first responders were unable to revive the man, who had been submerged for about a half an hour, police said.

The victim has been identified by friends as Manasie Kilukishak, originally from Pond Inlet, but residing in Arctic Bay where he lived with his wife and children.

Kilukishak was a volunteer with a number of local organizations, including search and rescue, and served as a Canadian Ranger.