'It went flying': Boater grateful to community of Aklavik after terrifying accident
Vince Sharpe is thanking his lucky stars — and the community of Aklavik, N.W.T. — after surviving a terrifying boating accident this week.
The Inuvik businessman was travelling solo to the community when his boat hit a steep bank on the side of the river.
"I got the sun in my eyes," he said. "I put my hand up to try and block the sun and by the time I did that it was too late."
He says the boat flew into the air.
"It went flying for a while, and then it landed on its side and it slid into the river. It got smashed up pretty good."
Sharpe says he was knocked out, and when he woke up the boat was full of water.
"I was getting thrown around in the boat pretty good," he said. "[I'm] very lucky, it was shallow water where it landed."
He called his friend Eddie Greenland to come help him, and in the meantime another boater came along and was able to help Sharpe get out of the boat.
A community member then drove him to the nursing station, where he spent three hours getting checked out.
"Lots of bruising, but I'm gonna live," Sharpe said. He said he's thankful to everyone who helped him out in his time of need.
"And the girls at the nursing station were just fantastic," he added.
By the time Sharpe was released, community members had already gotten his boat back to Aklavik.
"Great community over here," he said, choking up. "I just can't say enough about them."
He estimates there could be up to $30,000 in damages to his boat, which will have to be shipped south for repairs.
Sharpe said he's learned a valuable lesson from the accident — from something he failed to do.
"Wear your life jacket," he said. "Put it on."
