Searchers look for Nunavut elder

A view of Baker Lake. Searchers are now looking for a 72-year-old man who fell off a qamutik while he and his grandson were driving by snowmobile from Rankin Inlet to Baker Lake. (FILE PHOTO)

RCMP are helping volunteers in a search for a Baker Lake elder who went missing 80 to 90 miles outside of the community, while returning from Rankin Inlet with his grandson, said Cpl. Jonathan Saxby of the Baker Lake detachment.

Local search and rescue reported the disappearance to the detachment at about 6 a.m. May 8, Saxby said.

“The grandson had been doing some searching of his own, for an undisclosed period of time,” said the corporal.

At the request of the family, police could not disclose the identities of the grandson, described as a man his 20s, and the 72-year-old grandfather, Saxby said.

The two men were travelling by snowmobile between Rankin Inlet and Baker Lake, with the young man driving and the elder in tow on a qamutik.

The they were alternating driving duties, switching places on the snowmobile and qamutik periodically, Saxby said.

The 72-year-old was lost at some point on May 7, when he fell off the sled. The young man began searching for his grandfather that day, after realizing he was lost.

In the afternoon on May 9, searches were underway in the north channel area of Gibson Lake almost 90 miles out of Baker Lake, according to police.

Both the grandfather and grandson “are experienced on the land and experienced hunters,” said Saxby.

“The elder had travelled on his own from Baker to pick up the grandson and they were on their way back.”

Saxby said the elder had no medical concerns “other than age.”

The biggest concerns, he added, are what the lost man was wearing when he fell off the sled, and what he had in his hands. The elder is known not to have had any tools or rifle when he was lost, he said — which is the searchers’ main concern.

More than 20 volunteer search and rescue crews from Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet were involved with the effort when RCMP started to assist, said Saxby, adding that volunteers from Chesterfield Inlet and Whale Cove also began helping on May 9.

Ookpik Aviation of Baker Lake also enlisted a Twin Otter aircraft assisted in the effort on a volunteer level, the officer said, and the Agnico-Eagle provided assistance with a helicopter out of Rankin Inlet.

Chances of finding the lost individual are good, said Saxby.

“Certainly he has a steadfast spirit and is highly capable.”