Manitoban receives Star of Courage for saving woman from polar bear

He says he's not a hero but Canada's Governor General thinks otherwise.

On Friday, BillAyottereceived one ofCanada's highest honours for braverythe Star of Courage.

The 71-year-old man, from Churchill, Manitoba, was honouredin Ottawa for his heroic act in saving a woman from a polar bear attack.

The incident happened Nov. 1, 2013 when the woman, Erin Greene, was walking with friends from a Halloween party in the northern Manitoba townat about 5 a.m.

Radio Noon Manitoba0:01Listen as Bill Ayotte recounts his battle with a polar bear and living to tell the tale

On Friday, Bill Ayotte will receive one of Canada's highest honours for bravery the Star of Courage.

The group suddenlysaw a bear charging at them and ran. Her friends got awaybutthe bear grabbed Greene, who was visiting from Montreal.

She wrapped her arms around her head to protect herself as the bear thrashed at her, severing threearteries and tearing her scalp and a piece of her left ear.

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Ayotte, who was 69 at the time, was awoken by the noise and sounds of Greene's cries for help. Hegrabbed a shovel and rushed out of his house andbegan hitting the bear, distracting itlong enough to allow Greene to escape.

But the bear then turned its attention on him. Itjumped on Ayotte and began tomaul him until neighboursshot at the bear, chasing it away.

"He just ripped my ear off and I said to myself, 'that son of a bitchen bear has killed me' because he had been at me for a little while," Ayotte said.

"I believe I said to the people 'don't leave me down here and let me die like an animal. Let me die on my feet like a man.'"

While he suffered serious injuries, hehas recovered.

• Churchill man who rescued woman from polar bear attack honoured by province

Greene was airliftedto a Winnipeg hospital where she received 28 staples, several stitches and some blood transfusions. She, too,has since recovered.

Ayotte, whois the only Canadian who will receive the Star of Couragein 2015, has also been recognized for courage by the Manitoba government.

In 2014, hewas awarded the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, which isone of the province's highesthonours.