(CNN) A Canadian man was killed protecting his children from a polar bear while they were visiting an island in Canada's Arctic Archipelago, police said.

Aaron Gibbons, 31, and his children were visiting Sentry Island, a popular spot for fishing and hunting in Canada's Hudson Bay, on Tuesday when the bear approached them, his family told CNN partner CBC News.

Gibbons, who lived in Nunavut, the country's northernmost territory, died after putting himself between his children and the bear, the man's cousin Eric Anoee told CBC.

"Definitely Aaron died a hero, he protected his children," Anoee said.

In a statement, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Gibbons was unarmed at the time of the attack.

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