While working on a reforestation project near MacKenzie, British Columbia, on July 9, 1996, Elizabeth Burke rescued her sister from a bear attack. Alerted by her sister's cries, Ms. Burke found her in a ditch, severely mauled. The grizzly had momentarily backed off but then began charging again. Yelling and screaming to distract it, Ms. Burke moved away from her sister with the animal in pursuit. With only a tree stump between them, she hit the angry beast on the snout with a shovel, then threw rocks at it until it had retreated some distance away from the victim. Ms. Burke then returned to her sister, dragged her across the road, then raced to get their truck nearby. With the bear still in close proximity, she lifted her sister into the vehicle and radioed for help.