The body of Hawai'i adventurer Jimmy Hall must undergo an autopsy in Toronto before it is released to his family because of the nature of his death, according to Micah Johnson, his agent and friend.

Because there were no witnesses to his death and Hall was not Canadian, the Canadian government must do an autopsy, Johnson said yesterday.

That should be done by Monday if the weather cooperates so that a plane can fly out of Clyde River, the outpost for people taking expeditions to Sam Ford Fjord, where the accident happened, Johnson said.

Hall was killed Wednesday while parachute jumping from a mountain or glacier in a remote area near Sam Fjord on Baffin Island in northeastern Canada, north of the Arctic Circle. He was with friends Jake Kilfoyle and Matt Gerdes.

No details about the incident have emerged as the friends struggled to retrieve the body during foul weather and return to Clyde River some 60 to 70 miles from their camp, he said.

"They were nearly frozen when they got in because it took nearly 23 hours to get out of where they were," Johnson said.

Hall's remains will be cremated and returned to Hawai'i. Services are pending.

Hall is survived by his parents, who live in Guam; a sister, Ann, from Hawai'i; and his girlfriend, Stefanie Brendl.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.