Booze and boating prove fatal

A booze-fueled boat ride last Saturday evening appears to have been a death sentence for two Iqaluit men, who fell into the icy waters and have not been seen since.

Edward Munick, 23, and Billy Ford, 36, fell overboard from a freighter canoe at about 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, near the Bay of Two Rivers, about 30 kilometres from Iqaluit.

The two men were with three others. No one had life jackets, and there was no radio to call for help. At least some in the group had been drinking.

Some sources say two of the men were arguing, and that one intentionally rocked the boat. In the end, two men ended up in the water, along with a woman who managed to swim back to the boat.

The three remaining boaters were left drifting, unable to start the motor, until they were rescued by Jason White of Iqaluit at 6:20 a.m. Sunday morning.

A search for the two missing men began shortly afterwards, involving 19 local boats. The search continued for three days, but by Tuesday evening there was still no sign of Munick and Ford, and the search was called off.

Hunters will continue looking for their bodies, but hope had been given up on finding the two men alive.

Police, who are still investigating, say they haven’t yet come to any firm conclusions about the incident.

“We have to do more extensive interviews,” said Cpl. Terry Boyd. “Some are still in shock.”

Boyd wouldn’t comment on suggestions that one man intentionally rocked the boat.

“We can’t say that for sure yet,” he said. “We don’t want to be involved in speculation.”