Brenton C. J. Marchuk rescued Daniel R. Marchuk from an attacking bear, Mackenzie, British Columbia, May 21, 1995. In a remote camp from which he worked as a reforestation planter, Daniel, 18, was attacked by an adult male black bear weighing 250 pounds. The bear took him to the ground and bit him about the scalp. Daniel’s cousin, Brenton, 20, who also was a planter, was approaching the scene when he saw the attack. He immediately ran to the bear and kicked it, then struck it repeatedly with a tree limb that he had picked up. The bear stopped its attack on Daniel and looked at Brenton, enabling Daniel, bleeding profusely, to flee to the main part of the camp. After striking the bear again, Brenton also ran to the camp, but the bear followed them. Daniel was attempting to seek cover in a tent when the bear caught up to him and grasped him by the leg. Brenton struck the bear again and others pelted it with objects. Again freed, Daniel entered the tent. The bear walked away before it was shot dead by another planter. Daniel was hospitalized four days for treatment of puncture wounds and severe lacerations which required extensive suturing. He recovered.
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