NIBINAMIK FIRST NATION, Ont. — A Canadian Ranger helped rescue a man who suffered a stroke while hunting alone at a remote camp 60 kilometres from his home community of Nibinamik First Nation.
The Canadian Army says the man was hunting for moose last week near his trap line camp when he fell ill.
He used a satellite phone to call Nibinamik for help.
Local Nishnawbe Aski Police reached out to the OPP, who approached the army which authorized the use of the Ranger patrol in Nibinamik.
Rangers are part-time army reservists.
After a helicopter was located in Webeque, it was flown 80 kilometres to Nibinamik where Ranger Corporal Leo Oskineegish was already organizing a rescue mission that would have been challenging because the only way to get to the outpost camp was by boat.
Oskineegish and NAPS police constable Sean Langlois boarded the helicopter and flew to the camp where they located the hunter and accompanied him to Nibinamik for medical care.
The man was diagnosed with a mild stroke.
"It's a good feeling as a Ranger to be able to help someone in the community in an emergency," Oskineegish said.
Captain Ted Dinning of the army said it was an unusual situation that showed "how flexible the Rangers are in responding to emergency situations in the North," adding "The hunter's life may have been saved. It all ended with a good result."
Nibinamik is 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.
