Hall Beach celebrates safe return of Mike Jr. Maliki

Residents of Hall Beach, Nunavut, are celebrating the safe return of 13-year-old Mike Jr. Maliki.

The boy became lost in thick fog while walking home from a birthday party with a group of friends on Monday. For days, he survived with no food, no shelter and only a light summer jacket.

"I slept anywhere and usually behind rocks," he said in Inuktitut.

Early Friday afternoon, Benedikt Gudmundsson spotted the boy from his helicopter — just 20 minutes before the pilot was set to turn back.

"The pilot didn't say anything to me," said Maliki. "Just waved at me to come to the helicopter."

For Maliki's mother, Rhoda, it was a nerve-wracking week, waiting to see if her boy would ever come home.

She says the reunion was emotional.

"I saw him standing there," said Rhoda Maliki in Inuktitut. "We all ran to him. We were crying, with relief and laughter.

"I had no idea what else to feel. It was so overwhelming."

Upon his return, Mike Jr. was cold and dehydrated, but was treated in the local health centre and has now fully recovered.

"He's happy and seems to have returned to his normal life," said Rhoda.

Gudmundsson is now out of Hall Beach and back to his regular flight schedule, but the local search team is holding an event in his honour tonight at 7 p.m.

"We will celebrate, dance and thank the pilot who found my son," said Rhoda. "I want to thank everyone for all of their support."