On December 7, 2000, Jody Kuntz risked her life trying to prevent a suicidal man from jumping from a small plane, some 3,000 metres above the Hecate Strait on the northwest coast of British Columbia. Deputy Sheriff Kuntz was escorting the prisoner to Prince Rupert when, twenty minutes into the flight, he lunged out of his seat toward the emergency exit. By the time Mrs. Kuntz had unfastened her seat belt and reached his side, he had forced the door partially open and was trying to squeeze out. From a crouching position, Mrs. Kuntz was able to wrap her arms around his left leg but the man managed to partially exit the plane, dragging her with him. Staring at the void below her, she then braced herself against the door frame with one hand and managed to hold onto the back of the prisoner's clothes with the other. Determined to end his life, the man fought to free himself from her grip and, despite Mrs. Kuntz's desperate attempt to pull him back, he eventually broke free and fell to his death.