The body of a Norwegian hiker has been discovered since August 14, marking a tragic end for a search and rescue effort of more than a week in northern Manitoba.
RCMP SERGENTO spokesman. Paul Manaigre said that although it was not the result that many expected, he hopes that the discovery can bring a closure to the family. It also marks the end of one of the most difficult search and rescue missions ever made in Manitoba, said Manaigre, where there was a good possibility that the man’s body was never found.
“This is an area in which we could never have recovered it,” said Manaigre. “With the vast area, it could have been very easy for him to simply disappear.
“I’m glad for the good of the family that it can be taken home.”
On Sunday morning, Gillam RCMP and Parks Canada, along with search engines of the Fort Severn community, were looking on the west side of the Hayes River for Steffen Skjottelvik, 29, a RCMP press release.
Police say that a helicopter pilot told the search parties that he thought he found the body of the hiker missing a short distance from where his jacket had been located on Friday afternoon.
Gillam RCMP and Parks Canada officers, along with the Fort Severn community seekers, went to the place and confirmed that the body recovered on the coast was that of the missing Norwegian hiker.
His body was transported by helicopter to Gillam, man, where he was later transferred to Winnipeg. An autopsy for Monday morning has been programmed.
Treacherous land
Skjottelvik left Fort Severn, Ontario, on foot on July 25 with two dogs and planned to reach York Factory, Man., On August 15, a distance of more than 300 kilometers along the shore of Hudson Bay. He did not appear, but one of his dogs did, the police said.
RCMP says the contact was made with him on August 13, when he arrived at Nanuk camp, about 40 kilometers east of the York factory, and declared that he had lost one of his dogs on the trip.
Skjottelvik contacted York Factory on August 14, stating that his expected arrival time would have been on August 15, said Sergeant of the RCMP spokesman. Paul Manaigre.
Skjottelvik was an experienced Norwegian desert traveler, according to the information provided to the police, but Manaigre said that the land and wildlife in the area where he was traveling is extremely treacherous.
“People have said that there are only a few people who can do it on this planet,” Manaigre said on the walk of man.
“The fact that it came so far is just a testimony of their skills.”
According to Manaigre, the police believe that the man was swept while trying to cross the Hayes river on his way to York Factory, and said that the body of the man was discovered not far from the community.
“It was a very short distance, and the officers were there quite fast,” he said.
Manaigre said that the ground in the area where the search was carried out is swampy and so soft at the points that people often sink from knees or waist while trying to travel on it.
It is also known that the area along the coast of Hudson Bay is populated by polar and wolves, and that water levels fluctuate because the tide comes out and leaves Hudson Bay, he said.
“I have been a police officer for almost 30 years, involved with the search and rescue during the last eight, and in my experience, this has probably been one of the most difficult searches that has taken place in this province, only due to its location,” said Manaigre.
“It is a very difficult search, as well as physically due to the terrain and the dangers associated with wild animals, polar bears, wolves. You must be armed in that area. There are many factors that come into play in addition to searching.”
Manaigre said that discovering Skjottelvik so close to York Factory only adds to the tragedy of history.
“When you are sinking on your knees or your waist, it is painful, because you are pressing your legs a lot and your back, and he was living out of land, hunting and fishing for almost a month, and almost succeeded.
“I was there.”
Manaigre confirmed that Manitoba RCMP officers have communicated with the man’s family.
“Living his dream,” says the family
Christian Dyresen, spokesman for the Skjottelvik family, said in a Sunday interview that they are still waiting for details about how Skjottelvik died, but they relieve themselves to put the search for an end.
He said Skjottelvik was “living his dream” when walking in dangerous and uninhabited terrain in northern Manitoba, but also knew the dangers associated with what he was doing.
“He has been aware of the risks and the family has been talking about risks,” he said. “And they have also talked to Steffen about the possible results of this trip, taking into account all the significant risk in the area.”
The family now says that now people remember Skjottelvik for the adventurous life he lived before his death.
Gillam RCMP said they would like to thank the members of the Fort Severn and Parks Canada community who helped with this search.
