Missing Norwegian hiker’s body found in northern Manitoba, RCMP say

RCMP say they’ve found the body of a 29-year-old Norwegian hiker who disappeared in northern Manitoba while on a cross-continental journey of the Canadian wilderness.

Mounties from the Gilliam RCMP detachment say police, Parks Canada officers and community searchers from Fort Severn, Ont., were on the west side of the Hayes River on Sunday morning when they received a report from a helicopter pilot who believed he’d spotted the missing hiker’s body.

They say the searchers went to the area and confirmed the body belonged to the overdue man.

“We believe he tried entering the water to cross when he was swept away,” said Sergeant Paul Manaigre, Manitoba RCMP.

Steffan Skjottelvik was first reported missing on Aug. 15 after he failed to arrive in York Factory, Man., which is 850 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

He had set out on foot with his two dogs from Fort Severn last month. One of his dogs reportedly made it to York Factory, but the other had gone missing.

Searchers — including members of nearby First Nations — had canvassed treacherous muskeg and swift-moving rivers for days, recovering a backpack and rifle belonging to Skjottelvik on Thursday.

Police had also previously obtained what were believed to be the last co-ordinates where Skjottelvik’s GPS was connected to satellites, locating him about 4.4 kilometres from York Factory, on the east side of the river and just north of the town.

“He would have had to walk across that river,” Manaigre said.

Manaigre said searchers found Skjottelvik’s backpack on the east side of the river and north of York Factory, while his body and jacket were found on the same side of the river but further south.

“We believe he was swept away into the bay and with the tide pushing in his body was pushed up river south of York Factory where we retrieved his body,” said Manaigre.

He said the tide likely pushed the remains further south.

Earlier in the search, police said they believed the hiker had attempted to cross the fast-moving Hayes River near York Factory and got swept up by the current. They said locals had also been helping in the search effort on boats and helicopters because the terrain near the river was too dangerous to search on foot.

Christian Dyresen, a spokesperson for Skjottelvik’s family, told The Canadian Press earlier this week that Skjottelvik’s trip was inspired by Lars Monsen, a well-known television personality in Norway, who completed a similar expedition through Canada’s North.

In a statement sent to CityNews, the Skjottelvik’s family said it’s deeply moved by the outpouring of support, thanking First Nations communities, searchers, and international media. Communities across the north, from Churchill to Moose Factory, have held vigils in his honour, with candles, prayers, drumming, and people gathering to reflect on a man whose journey touched lives far beyond those who knew him.

Skjottelvik covered nearly 300 kilometres in just three weeks, something RCMP say only a handful of people on earth could achieve. His dream to trek the Canadian wilderness all the way to Alaska may have ended, however he’s left a remarkable mark on both sides of the Atlantic.

“It’s unfortunate his dream to make it to Alaska was cut short, to me it’s a great story with a tragic ending,” said Manaigre.

Mounties said the man’s body was flown by helicopter to Gilliam and was then flown to Winnipeg, where an autopsy has been scheduled for Monday morning.

Gilliam RCMP thanked the community members from Fort Severn and Parks Canada for their assistance in the search.

—With files from The Canadian Press