Elliot Ralph Cole rescued Jon M. Nostdal from an attacking cougar, Port Alice, British Columbia, February 8, 2001. Nostdal, 52, was riding his bicycle on an unlit road at night when a cougar approached from behind, jumped on his back, and took him to the roadway, where it began to maul him. Nostdal fought against the cougar for several minutes, during which it bit him about the arms and head. Cole, 39, instrument mechanic, arrived in his truck and saw the attack. He stopped at the scene, approached the cougar, and struck it repeatedly, first with a gym bag containing books and then with his fists, but the cougar would not release Nostdal. Cole then picked up Nostdal’s bicycle, placed the front wheel on the cougar’s neck, and applied pressure. The cougar released Nostdal but retained a hold of his jacket. Nostdal slipped out of the jacket, then ran to Cole’s truck and entered, followed shortly by Cole. Cole took Nostdal to the hospital, where he was detained three days for treatment of numerous puncture wounds and lacerations that required sutures. He recovered. Cole also received hospital treatment, for lacerations to a hand, and he too recovered.
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