Missing hiker’s body recovered

The body of a Norwegian hiker who went missing on his way to York Factory has been recovered along the western shore of the Hayes River.

An autopsy is now scheduled in Winnipeg for Steffen Skjottelvik, who was missing for 10 days. Acting on a tip from a helicopter pilot who reported back to search party members that he believed he’d found Skjottelvik, Gillam RCMP, Parks Canada officials and community searchers from Fort Severn, Ont., did a ground search and located the man’s body at about 10:20 a.m. Sunday, a short distance away from where his jacket was found on Friday afternoon. Previously, Manitoba RCMP said it was likely the hiker was swept away in dangerous currents when crossing the river.

Skjottelvik, 29, was trekking along the Hayes River in a remote part of northeastern Manitoba when he last transmitted GPS coordinates on Aug. 14. He’s been described as an experienced wilderness traveller. His backpack and rifle were found earlier last week.

Upon hearing his gear had been found, Skjottelvik’s family was hopeful the young man would be located, a family spokesperson in Norway told the Canadian Press last week.

“This is an enormously big area, with a lot of risks going into the area,” Christian Dyresen told the Canadian Press. “The more info (searchers) have that can make them focus … the better.

“So, in that way, the family still has hope.”

In a news release Sunday, Gillam RCMP thanked community members from Fort Severn, where Skjottelvik departed on July 25 heading to York Factory, and Parks Canada for their work on the search.

Skjottelvik’s body was transported first to Gillam and then flown to Winnipeg for Monday’s scheduled autopsy.

With Canadian Press files