Snowmobile sinks into Sylvia Grinnell River
Iqaluit’s hunters and trappers association warns travellers not to cross the ice
A snowmobile sits partially submerged in Sylvia Grinnell River Monday morning. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Iqaluit’s hunters and trappers association is warning people not to cross the Sylvia Grinnell River after a snowmobile fell through the ice Monday.
Iqaluit RCMP were notified that a male snowmobiler and his vehicle had fallen through the ice but that he had returned to Iqaluit safely, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. George Henrie said in an email.
Amaruq Hunters and Trappers Association alerted the public of the incident on Facebook shortly before 11 a.m.
The snowmobile’s rear appeared to be submerged in the water, while its handlebars and ski tips were pointed upward.
The incident occurred within 20 metres of the shoreline, in an area of Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park near the tip of the Iqaluit airport runway.
By 11:30 a.m., the snowmobile was sitting alone, next to an orange rescue buoy. No emergency vehicles were on the scene at that time, and the area was largely empty. It’s not clear how many people were involved in the incident.
On its Facebook page Amaruq Allavvik, the HTA said the snowmobile’s driver “may still be at the hospital” and that “he was in water for some time.”
The association told Nunatsiaq News it could not provide any information about the incident.
The outside temperature in Iqaluit was -13C on Monday morning, according to Environment Canada. There was some light snow and fog.
– With files from Daron Letts.
I hope he is OK, that is scary!
This article would help a lot more with public safety if they provided better photos of the area where it happened.
I’m not from Iqaluit, is it usually safe to cross that river this time of year?