Local RCMP were able to rescue a stranded canoeist off a sandbar in the Big Salmon River this week.
On Sept. 16 at about 4:30 p.m. Whitehorse RCMP received a call that a 911 Satellite Personal Tracker (SPOT) had been activated.
The police and Emergency Medical Services personnel attended the location by helicopter and found a man on a sandbar next to several items of clothing and a canoe.
The man was an experienced canoeist from Ontario, police say. His name is not being released.
The 47-year-old told officers he’d rented a canoe and planned to paddle to Carmacks.
He left from Quiet Lake on Sept. 15. He hit a rough patch of water and the canoe tipped.
He managed to swim to shore retrieving most of his things, but was left with no map or paddle. He opted to use the SPOT locator to summon help.
Police say the man was in good spirits but was suffering some early symptoms of hypothermia.
He was checked and cleared by attending paramedics and was brought to Whitehorse. He planned to return to Ontario the next day.