An MMA trainee who dreamed of becoming a professional fighter was mauled to death by a black bear.
Hrishikesh Koloth was attacked while working at a uranium exploration site on 8 May.
A civilian at the site later shot the bear dead.
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The freak attack took place near Nordbye Lake, in northern Saskatchewan, Canada.
Hrishikesh, 27, had moved to Canada from his native India three years ago and had been living in Penticton, British Columbia, with his older brother, Arjun.
He was working as a contract technician at Zoo Bay, a 19,850-hectare uranium exploration property operated by UraniumX Discovery Corp.
Hrishikesh had trained in MMA for more than a decade, beginning in India before continuing with Skoden Martial Arts in Penticton.
According to his brother, he was due to start a new job as a boxing coach in Vancouver this month (Jun).
During his amateur MMA career, he recorded one win and three losses, with his final bout taking place on 28 February. He also won three grappling matches.
Friends and family said he hoped to turn professional and eventually compete in the UFC.
Survived by both his parents, Hrishikesh was laid to rest in Kerala, India, as reported by Need To Know.
The tragedy marks the fourth fatal bear attack in Saskatchewan’s recorded history.
The previous fatality occurred in 2020, when 44-year-old Stephanie Blais was killed near her family’s cabin north of Buffalo Narrows.
Before that, two men died in separate bear attacks near Nipawin & District Regional Park in 1983.
In a statement issued on 11 May, before Hrishikesh had been publicly identified as the victim, UraniumX said: “The Company is cooperating fully with local authorities, wildlife officials, and government agencies in their investigation.
“As a precaution, all field activities at the Zoo Bay property have been temporarily halted while the review is completed.”
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