January 27, 2010
14 WING GREENWOOD – Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Techs) from 14 Wing Greenwood successfully rescued a male hunter off of an ice floe which was drifting fifteen miles south of Resolute Bay in the arctic in the late afternoon on Monday, January 25, 2010.
The man became stranded on Friday, January 22, 2010 when he went hunting and upon making his way back home found a large crack in the ice which left him with no way off of it. A CC-130 Hercules aircraft from 17 Wing Winnipeg was first on scene and dropped supplies to the stranded hunter as well as survival gear. 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron (Sqn) were then tasked by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Halifax at approximately 10:30 p.m. (on January 22) to fly a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter to the site. The request originated with the JRCC in Trenton, Ontario, which was responsible for the overall coordination for the rescue. The inclement weather made it impossible for the Cormorant to complete the rescue until Monday.
Two SAR Techs hoisted down to the ice floe and then hoisted the cold and tired hunter up to the Cormorant and he was flown to the airport in Resolute Bay where he was met by his family.
