The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Wednesday, September 30, 2026
During a confrontation with a grizzly bear in 2008, Sue Aikens was attacked, suffering dislocated hips and a skull injury. After cleaning herself up, she attempted to call for help via radio, but faced a frustrating exchange with the operator who repeatedly asked 'What is it?' instead of responding directly to her pleas for assistance.
“Snatch me up, drug me into the tundra. Pulled the hips out of the socket, the jaw closed around your throat, scraped your skull plate.”
“Cleaned myself up, went to town, took two gun belts, cinched them down tight. I tried to call, used to have radio, I called out, "Hey, this is Sue from Cavik, I've had a situation here."”
“I said, "I need help." They said, "What is it?" And I said, "I need help."”