Successful air search and rescue conducted near Rankin Inlet
Canadian Forces, RCMP locate 52-year-old man headed from Rankin Inlet to Arviat on foot, identity unconfirmed
A 52-year-old man was found by Canadian Forces and RCMP on the land near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut on Saturday morning, following a successful air search.
According to Canadian Forces spokespeople, the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, based out of CFB Trenton, in Ontario, responded to a request for air assistance in a search and rescue operation on Jan. 24 from Arviat RCMP.
A C-130 Hercules aircraft was dispatched from Winnipeg and managed to locate the missing individual at approximately 10:45 a.m. EST. According to a Royal Canadian Air Force news release, the man attempted to draw the attention of the crew once he spotted the plane by jumping up and down and waving his arms like a jumping jack.
Canadian Forces radioed in the man's location to ground responders and dropped lifesaving equipment.
"We came in low, and dropped a satellite phone, hot chocolate and food," says Captain Kevin Coulombe, the aircraft commander, in a press release. "We wanted to warm him up and for him to be able to communicate with rescuers."
A ground response team consisting of RCMP and Arviat search and rescue volunteers were then able to pick up the man using a local helicopter.
According to the Canadian Forces, the man was travelling by foot from Rankin Inlet to Arviat, and was far closer to Rankin Inlet when he was found. The name of the man has not yet been confirmed.