On the afternoon of November 2, 1986, high waves capsized a canoe over a kilometre from shore in San Josef Bay, near Port Hardy, B.C. The couple were able to cling to the vessel as they slowly drifted towards the beach, but 200 metres from shore they let go in order to avoid being washed against a rocky outcrop. At this point the woman ran into difficulty staying above the water and her companion tried to swim towards shore while supporting her. When one of the students she was leading on a nature walk on the beach spotted the man's head among the high waves 100 metres from shore and informed her Julie Brierly immediately entered the water waded, then swam through the heavy waves and strong current towards them. After she and the man succeeded in towing the unconscious woman to shore, she assisted him in applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the victim was able to breathe on her own. After being hospitalized for exposure, cuts and bruises, the woman recovered completely.