Missing ice fishermen found dead near Kinngait
Father and son failed to return after checking their fishing nets in poor weather conditions on Dec. 31
A 70-year-old man and his 38-year-old son were found dead on Jan. 2 near Kinngait after being reported missing on Dec. 31. (File photo)
Two ice fishermen who were reported overdue after failing to return from checking their fishing nets near Kinngait on Dec. 31 have been found dead.
Police were notified at about 1:40 a.m. on Dec. 31 that a 70-year-old man and his 38-year-old son had not returned home after travelling roughly 15 kilometres from the community to check their nets, RCMP said in a news release Thursday.
Poor and unsafe weather conditions initially prevented searchers from heading out, the release said. After conditions improved later that morning, a ground search began.
The men’s snowmobile was located later that day about 11 kilometres from Kinngait, but searchers were unable to locate the pair.
On Jan. 2, at approximately 2 p.m., the bodies of the two fishermen were found about five kilometres from the community.
Criminality is not suspected and the police investigation has concluded, the release said. The deaths are now being investigated by the Nunavut Coroner’s Office.
Heart Felt Condolences to the Family.
When in Akulivik on a field project the guide had a sled with a canvas cover that could be used in a pinch as a shelter from storms. In the cold breezy weather the biologist and I were warm and comfortable on the sled on that day trip. With a zipper door, space enough for a couple of people, and with a small stove it could allow for easy survival until help arrived or until the weather cleared.
I would like to send Condolences out to their families and all Kinnaqmuit nalinakuluit akkuluit issumarivatsi.
Pauline Alainga