November 6, 1998
Coroner recommends how to avoid future inmate drownings
The NWT's chief coroner says the drowning death of a Cape Dorset man at the Yellowknife Correctional Center last June was accidental, but preventable.
JANE GEORGE
Nunatsiaq News
MONTREAL — Emotional testimony about the circumstances surrounding a Cape Dorset man's sudden drowning death in Yellowknife last summer dominated a coroner's inquest held last week in Yellowknife.
Etuk Qavavau, 24, an inmate at the Yellowknife Correctional Center, drowned in Long Lake on June 26, 1998, between two and three o'clock in the afternoon.
The RCMP determined that his drowning was accidental and involved no foul play.
According to facts set out at the inquest, Qavavau and 10 other inmates had received permission to go for a picnic at Long Lake as a reward for community work.
One maintenance officer from YCC accompanied them. Three of the inmates, including Qavavau, went swimming in an area that was out of the officer's view. Shortly afterwards, Qavavau got into difficulty.
Attempts by inmates both in the water and on shore to reach him were unsuccessful. Additional attempts by the Yellowknife fire department to reach and resuscitate Qavavau were also unsuccessful.
After hearing from witnesses, the six jurors at the inquest made nine recommendations designed to prevent a similar death from re-occurring.
An accidental, but avoidable death
Jurors asked the Corrections Division of the Department of Justice to implement an action plan for off-site activities for inmates, including the documentation of activity plans, training, security, and safety.
They also recommended that the YCC start a water training program for inmates. This program on basic skills and "drown-proofing" techniques would try to develop qualified instructors within the inmate population.
They asked the YCC to continue counseling all personnel, inmates, and any other people affected by Qavavau's death. They said the Department of Health and Social Services should provide counseling to the community and family members of the deceased.
"Emotional testimony by some of the people involved prompted the jury to consider that further counseling may be required and should be made available if needed," said Kinney. "Certainly in an occurrence like this, community and family members may have difficulty dealing with the death and surrounding circumstances."
Jurors also want the City of Yellowknife to post signs at Lookout Point, advising the public of the site's potential danger.
"The jury was made aware of large rocks and a sudden, underwater drop-off, a short distance from the shoreline in this area. There was also evidence given that revealed this area is not under lifeguard supervision," chief coroner Percy Kinney said.
YK denied money for water rescue
Yellowknife should also acquire or provide the necessary resources to allow its fire department to develop underwater rescue capability "immediately."
"Witnesses testified that the city had turned down precious requests for funding in this area," said Kinney.
"It was also stated that the local fire department maintains their responsibility to provide emergency response to at least six lake areas within city limits. Further testimony revealed the short critical time frame needed for successful underwater rescue and resuscitation for drowning victims. The need for a quick and properly equipped response to this type of emergencies was demonstrated."
Jurors suggested that the territorial Department of Transportation, through the NWT Small Boat Safety program, and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, could cover the costs for the necessary equipment and training.
They also recommended that these two departments mount a public awareness campaign to promote personal water safety.
Even after the creation of Nunavut next year, many Nunavut inmates will continue to be incarcerated at the Yellowknife Correctional Center, under intergovernmental contracts between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.