Nine hunters stranded by ice over the weekend near Coral Harbour, Nunavut, arrived back in the community Monday night.

The hunters from Cape Dorset had travelled in two boats to go caribou hunting on Coats Island.

Coral Harbour resident Bonnie Nakoolak, who was involved with the co-ordination of the rescue operation, said the Coast Guard ship Pierre Radisson provided the group with fuel but the hunters didn't board the ship.

“They gave them gas so they ended up heading back to Coral,” she said. “They're good but they're all tired. They're all good. Lots of waves, though. It was pretty windy when they first started heading up.”

Nakoolak said she's not sure when the hunters will head back home to Cape Dorset but she said they did catch caribou.

She said the area around Coral Harbour has been inundated with ice this summer.