Two missing hunters spotted near Taloyoak

Two hunters who set off towards Taloyoak by boat from Gjoa Haven on Aug. 26, are safe and sound, said the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ont..

A C-130 Hercules spotted the two men, whose names were not available, shortly before 10 a.m.. today.

The aircraft dropped a radio to the men, who were on shore southeast of Taloyoak near Cape Porter, so they could communicate with the aircraft.

They told the search and rescue team that they “were fine,” Capt. Wayne Sinker of the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre said.

“They’re waiting for the weather [to improve],” he said. “It’s pretty windy.”

Sinker said the two took the right action, in deciding to wait out the weather on shore. “They did what’s the best thing: to sit back and wait for the weather to clear.”

They didn’t have a satellite phone or CB radio with them, Capt. Sinker said.

The C-130 dropped the men food and water.

The current weather conditions are expected to clear within three days, and after that, the men should be able to continue on their way, he said.

“The communities are aware of the situation and where they are,” he said.

The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre will keep the case open until the two return home.

The search effort started after the men had left Gjoa Haven heading northeast on Rae Strait for Taloyoak, but did not arrive there Aug. 27 as expected.