Coral Harbour hunters rescued from ice

Search and rescue crews in Coral Harbour, Nunavut, rescued two hunters Friday who had been stranded on a pan of ice for a day.

Greg Ningeocheak and Sandy Pudlat, both of Coral Harbour, were stranded Thursday on an ice pan that drifted about six kilometres away from the floe edge.

Coral Harbour is located on the southern shore of Southampton Island, at the mouth of Hudson Bay. The hunters were about 70 kilometres from the hamlet when they became stranded.

Canadian Ranger Sgt. Noel Kaludjak told CBC News that the ice pan drifted back to the floe edge Friday morning, and the two hunters were able to move onto solid ice from there.

Ningeocheak and Pudlat should be back in the community early Friday afternoon, he added.

Kaludjak said the incident had a positive ending, but he reminded hunters going to the ice floe edge to be extremely cautious.

"Right now, the current is very strong. If you get too close to the floe edge, the ice might just break off and take you with it," he said.

"Just talk to the elders before you go out to the ice, and just make sure the tide is not as strong."

Earlier in the morning, two teams of local searchers gathered in the area, waiting for daylight to see whether they could reach the men and bring them in safely.

Search officials said a Hercules aircraft from CFB Trenton in Ontario flew to the two men on the floe late Thursday, dropping off emergency supplies such as a tent, blankets and food.