WWF-Canada statement on the presumed drowning of Dutch researchers Marc Cornelissen and Philip de Roo near Bathurst Island

Toronto, May 1, 2015 – On April 30, Dutch researchers Marc Cornelissen and Philip de Roo went missing near Bathurst Island, 200 km north of Resolute, Nunavut, and are presumed drowned. They were in the area on an expedition to the Last Ice Area. The two men were with Cold Facts, an organization which supports scientific research in the Polar Regions. It was founded by Marc Cornelissen and is funded by WWF Netherlands and WWF UK.

The following is a statement from David Miller, President and CEO of WWF-Canada:

“We are shocked and saddened by the presumed drowning of Marc Cornelissen and Philip de Roo off Bathurst Island. Over the past two decades, these passionate and experienced researchers worked tirelessly with WWF to document the effects of climate change in the Arctic. Their loss will be felt across the environmental community. On behalf of WWF-Canada, I would like to express our deepest sympathies to the families of Marc and Philip, and to our colleagues in the Netherlands who worked closely with them.”

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Statement from the WWF Global Arctic Programme
 

For further information contact

Megan Nesseth, Communications Specialist – Arctic, WWF-Canada
[email protected]
(416) 904-2482