Iqaluit hunter, 27, found dead after weekend blizzard

The body of a 27-year-old Pauloosie Qaunirq, who had gone hunting in the middle of the day Feb. 1 just a few hours before a blizzard hit the area, was found Feb. 4 at about 10 a.m., after a volunteer search effort that lasted about 24 hours.

This was after the man’s family of the hunter began searching for him around Feb. 2. On Feb. 3, they called the City of Iqaluit, the search and rescue committee and the RCMP to ask for help.

Qaunirq’s body was recovered north of his snowmobile, which was found half-buried in snow a few miles north of Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park past the airport, said Jimmy Akavak, the chairman of the local search and rescue committee.

“It’s been sad for volunteers and everyone this morning,” he said.

Qaunirq’s qamutik was also found north of the park, an area that was searched last night.

Volunteers searched the sea ice, across the harbour, around the shoreline and inside Sylvia Grinnell Park.

The qamutik was the first thing they found.

“It’s a harsh environment. That’s what we’ve been dealing with for the past 24 hours,” Akavak said.

Akavak said he would like to thank the group of about 60 people who helped with the search, which continued overnight.

He also sent condolences to Qaunirq’s family.

The coroner and RCMP will now do an investigation into the incident, Akavak said.