Nathan Piugattuk, 13, was a shy but popular boy who loved hockey, his mom Sheila Piugattuk said. Nathan died from injuries suffered in an ATV accident on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Sheila Piugattuk)
‘He was only 13’: Igloolik family mourns boy killed in ATV crash
RCMP continuing its investigation into single-vehicle accident that happened Thursday
The death of a teenager in an all-terrain vehicle crash Thursday in Igloolik has left his family devastated.
“He was only 13,” Sheila Piugattuk said of her son, Nathan Piugattuk, in a phone interview Monday.
“It’s like he is going to walk through that door and say, ‘Hi Anaana,'” she said, as she began to cry. Anaana means mother in Inuktitut.
“He was always trying to kiss me. And I would have to bring my head up, going on tiptoes so he could kiss my head. And he would say, ‘Anaana, you are short, eh?'” she said, laughing at the memory.
She described Nathan as a shy boy who loved hockey. Born in Ottawa, premature, he was a small baby who grew to be the tallest boy in his class at school, Sheila Piugattuk said.
In a news release Monday, Nunavut RCMP reported two 13-year-old boys were involved in a single-vehicle ATV crash Thursday. Both were taken to the local health centre at about 6:30 p.m. The driver was treated and released but the passenger, Nathan Piugattuk, died later from his injuries.
Police are continuing their investigation, the release said.
Sheila Piugattuk described the scene when she arrived at the Igloolik health centre after 7 p.m. on Thursday.
“I didn’t think he was going to make it,” she said. “‘He was saying, ‘Don’t pick me up. I don’t want to die yet. I want to live a little bit longer,'” she said.
She believes Nathan was speaking to his grandmother, who died two years ago.
She said health staff told her Nathan would be medevaced to a hospital outside the community. With other family members by his bedside, she went home to gather some things for the flight.
By 1:30 a.m., she said, they learned Nathan could not be medevaced until the bad weather had cleared.
Exhausted, Sheila Piugattuk left her daughter Seema with Nathan so that she could get some rest before what was expected to be an early morning flight to Iqaluit or Ottawa.
Around 5:30 a.m. Friday, though, she was told nurses were performing CPR on Nathan.
She and the rest of her family stayed by his side. Seven family members were there. His father Christopher Piugattuk wasa in Iqaluilt, but he was there by phone.
Nathan died just before 6 a.m. on Friday.
“He got to see us all,” Sheila Piugattuk said.
So sad for the family. Im so concerned about my grandchildren who are the same age. Its not like i can just take the atv away. I would if I could. The parents are teaching about safety, but its not enough. Peer pressure, and its every other 13 14 year old using atv with speed and not really aware of consequences. The whole community is in on this as well. In Nunavik, its just totally out of this world, if we could only put the stats out , it would frighten. No end to it just injuries and death waiting to happen. Powers to be could do more with stricter laws at least.
This is also not just for Honda, it is for Skidoo as well.
It is more about being strong enough AND having a developed brain to deal with something unexpected that comes up. Just like as some gets so old they should also not be driving since they might not be strong enough to control the honda or skidoo as well.
This is devastating. Hope it never happens again. Rules exist for a reason. Nobody under 16 should operate these, especially on roads in the towns. Everyone on board should be wearing a helmet and you should never carry passengers unless its a side-by-side or 1-up type. These arent toys. Speed kills. RIP to the young man, condolence to the family and pray this never happens again.
I am so sorry for the families loss. This is not the first accident an under age kid driving a Honda has had an accident. I know a few time other young kids that weren’t on the honda have been hit by underage drivers. And NOTHING IS DONE.
Dont let kids drive in town. That is all there is to it. Our towns are not that big, the kids can walk if they want to go somewhere.
My heart aches for you, Sheila and Sonny Boy. My heart goes out to you and the family. I hope you are surrounded by nothing but love. <3
We we all young and we all had issues we thought our parents were picking on us. We wanted to fit in. It’s part of life. Live and let learn even in life or death. God has a plan for all of us. Al humdulilah amen