Missing Naujaat pair found safe
Two community members found after day-long search
A search and rescue team located a pair of missing Naujaat residents on Wednesday evening. (File photo by David Venn)
Two people reported missing near Naujaat on Tuesday have been found.
“Local ground search and rescue and community volunteers assisted the individuals in returning safely to Naujaat,” said Ryleigh McPherson, spokesperson for Nunavut Emergency Management, in an email to Nunatsiaq News Thursday morning.
McPherson’s email didn’t indicate where the pair were found and if they required medical care. She said they were found Wednesday evening.
A team of close to 30 searchers using ATVs and other on-the-land equipment were involved in the search for Elizabeth Mapsalak and Scott Mapsalak. The search was co-ordinated by the Hamlet of Naujaat.
Icy snow conditions made travel on the land unusually difficult, said Benoit Malliki, acting manager for the Naujaat Hunters and Trappers Organization.
“Nunavut Emergency Management thanks the hamlet, local ground search and rescue and community volunteers for their swift response and collaboration, and joins the community in welcoming the safe return of the family,” McPherson said.
How many times does it have to be said that you need, as a minimum, to go out on land or sea with an emergency locator transmitter (ELT)? Different models are available from about a couple of hundred bucks. It’s one thing to risk your own life but quite another to risk the lives of people searching for you. Yes the lives of searchers have been lost in Nunavut. There should be a heavy fine for not carrying an ELT or a sat-phone.
Spot devices can also be used for free from hamlet offices, local HTO or wildlife office
Would be great to see how much money is wasted on both unprepared people on the land and bogus NEM responses. Weve all seen Herc’s fly over looking for people that were too lazy to loan out an in-reach. Heavy fines should be in order. People will think twice about being reckless on the land if they know theyre facing a $30,000 SAR bill.