Update: Stranded hunter rescued by military rescue team

by Jessica Tucker | January 24, 2010 at 01:19 pm

690 views | 56 Recommendations | 19 comments

Final Update: News headlines are buzzing that the stranded hunter has been picked up by the Cormorant helicopter and will soon be home, safe and warm with his family in Resolute.

The Windsor Star has reported that the rescue team is en route to Mr. Idlout Arctic location.

Jan. 25 Update

As of this morning, Mr. Idlout is still drifting along though the Arctic ice flow protecting himself from the extreme weather in an ice shelter he has built for himself. Rescue efforts that were hoped to have brought the man home late last night were, as of this morning still grounded by bad weather and waiting for the next break in weather to take off and save the stranded man. More information is expected later in the day.

Original Story

Trapped on a chunk of ice in the "Arctic ice floe for two days near one of Canada's northernmost communities" since Friday, the National Post has relayed that 39 year old David Idlout will soon be home with his family in Resolute, Nunavut. Since the "Hercules aircraft dropped off supplies for him Saturday" and a new battery for his satellite phone, 39 year old David Idlout has been again able to keep his family updated on his situation, eat and keep dry in the provided tent.

Idlout had been out seal hunting on Friday when on his way home discovered a large crack in the ice ahead that had not been there on his way in earlier in the day. Since Friday, the chuck of ice Idlout has been inhabiting has drifted almost 20 kilometers. A rescue effort that has been delayed by weather conditions and mechanical mishaps is now fully underway to retrieve the stranded seal hunter.

The man is stranded in an extremely remote part of the North. The Cormorant helicopter that left Iqaluit Sunday morning had a journey of more than 1,400 kilometres to make, which was expected to take them nearly 14 hours, including extra stops for fuel.

Idlout is expected to be picked up by Search and Rescue by late Sunday night or early Monday morning, conditions permitting.

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Sputnic

at 13:56 on January 24th, 2010

Hope the seals are not endangered

Jessica Tucker

at 14:02 on January 24th, 2010

Let me just say, I do not agree or condone the actions discussed here however I think it is important news to report.

Sputnic

at 14:12 on January 24th, 2010

It is news. I hope mr Idiot gets rescued safely

Jessica Tucker

at 15:17 on January 24th, 2010

I wonder who is going to end of footing the bill for this one?

Amy Judd

at 15:25 on January 24th, 2010

Hmm, I dislike seal hunting very much, but at least he is going to be safe and be able to get home.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 16:50 on January 24th, 2010

I take it that Idlout is an inuit that feeds his family by seal hunting.

Jessica Tucker

at 16:55 on January 24th, 2010

Yes, Karl!

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 17:02 on January 24th, 2010

Thanks Jessica, Resolute Bay is a pretty lonely place most of the year, let alone in January. I have been up in Alert Bay and also over to Thule, Greenland . I scratch my head often at how these people manage to live there. I hope all works out well for Mr. Idlout.

Uwe Paschen

at 20:51 on January 24th, 2010

If one wants to leave by the laws of nature, then one has to be willing to face nature as well. I am not certain why we persist in killing and hunting now-a-days when we have agriculture and far better ways to feed our self's then we ever did in human history. It is time we give back to nature and protect all that still is alive today.

The energy equation here does not justify the hunt.

Hugh Askew

at 07:15 on January 25th, 2010

Not much to farm up there, might be able to in a greenhouse - if there was enough sun this time of year.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 04:39 on January 25th, 2010

The energy equation is also quite high to ship agricultural products into Canada's most northern region. This is an inuit settlement of some 250 people that exists on local hunting for food.

I doubt that anyone would be satisfied if the authorities left him on this ice float to die. Secondly, if anyone was to suggest that inuits be relocated to the South there would be hell to pay.

Let's put into perspective where this area is located on the planet:

Resolute is one of Canada's northernmost communities and is second only to Grise Fiord on Ellesmere Island (Alert and Eureka are more northerly but are not considered towns—just military outposts and weather stations). It is also one of the coldest inhabited places in the world, with an average yearly temperature of −16.4 °C (2.5 °F).[6] As of the 2006 census 2001 census.[3] Like most northern communities the roads and most of the terrain are all gravel.

the population was 229, an increase of 6.5%

Uwe Paschen

at 07:13 on January 25th, 2010

I agree Karl, still we can produce food even in the most northern regions with geothermal energies and other methods, look at Sweden or Norway for instance. Further shipping food is still cheeper then this sort of rescue.

If some one choses this way of life for what ever reason then one has to accept the consequences as well. Same goes for smokers and alcoholics, they have to be put last on the medical list or pay the most in insurance.

It is all nice to rescue every one in trouble and I am all for it, still, this demands some responsibility form each individual as well as some compromise. Society can not afford to keep this up just because every one wants their own way and acts self centred.

We help people in trouble every day but those got into trouble for the most part for no fault of their own and I am glad I am part of such efforts.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:19 on January 25th, 2010

Uwe, with all due respect, you cannot compare the Arctic with Sweden and Norway. That Inuit is sitting in an area where it is 51 below right now. It is their ancestral way of life. What would the outcry be if there was no effort made to save him. Canada is getting enough of a bad rap of their treatment of First Nations. I think this is a small price to pay.

I feel less compassion for snowmobilers in the South that go run their machines in regions that have had avalanche warnings. This guy is providing for his family.

Uwe Paschen

at 09:23 on January 25th, 2010

I do not say that he should not have been saved Karl, I am saying that is it time for change and to adapt. Humanity has survived by adapting not by staying stagnant.

Further, Sweden does know similar climate condition and so does Greenland and Siberia.

And I do agree concerning your opinion on the Snowmobiler.

marianmo

at 05:45 on January 25th, 2010

i dont believe theres much agricultural work being done in the arctic...this is a way of life, and as a life not being worth the energy being used to save it i only hope that you are never in a position to need rescuing

158

at 21:47 on January 25th, 2010

Thanks for posting this. I like good news stories.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 01:14 on January 26th, 2010

Kudos to the men and women of the Canadian Forces.

RESOLUTE, Nunavut — An Inuit hunter who spent three nights stranded on an ice floe drifting in the Northwest Passage was rescued Monday afternoon.

"He was cold and tired but otherwise in good health," said Pierre Bolduc of the Canadian Search and Rescue Centre.

After two previous failed attempts, Daniel Idlout of Resolute, Nunavut, was plucked off the ice at about 2:30 p.m. by rescuers in a Cormorant helicopter.

A crowd of well-wishers greeted Idlout as he landed in the northern hamlet.

"There were lots of people there," said Const. Ted Munro of Resolute RCMP. "The mayor was there as well as friends and well-wishers from the community.

"He is currently safe and sound and home with his family."

Jessica Tucker

at 08:42 on January 26th, 2010

Thank you everyone for your contributions!

anarkissed

at 10:39 on January 26th, 2010

Heck of a story and don't judge this hunter by the same book as those guys clubbing seals in Labrador. Mr. Idlout is not hunting commercially, he is getting food for his family and community, a perfectly reasonable activity. In the north there is nothing else to eat, just what you can hunt. They're eating locally and using resources with care. I'm glad mr idlout is alright but you can bet he'll be investing in some sort of amphibious transport when he gets the chance!