Canadian biathlete killed in apparent bear attack
WebPosted Tue Jul 4 13:28:30 2000
CBC
SPORTS ONLINE - A national biathlon team member died while training Sunday, apparently
the victim of a bear attack.
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Members of the
team identified the athlete as 24-year-old Mary-Beth Miller of Yellowknife, N.W.T.
Police were
alerted after she failed to return from training near a military base in Val
Cartier, northwest of Quebec City.
"She was
full of vitality," said her mother, Mary Carol Miller from Yellowknife.
"She was the biggest encourager. There are going to be people all over
this country who have bumped into her at races and different things, who she's
encouraged."
"She was the
most precious thing in our lives and we're having a heck of a time here,"
she continued. "She taught us all to live each day, each moment."
The biathlete had
arrived in Quebec last week for a summer of training at the Miriam Bedard
Centre.
"At first
sight, it seems she was attacked by a bear," Capt. Johanne Bournival of
CFB Valcartier said.
Authorities say
there were bear bite marks on her neck and bear tracks were spotted near
Miller's body.
An autopsy was to
be performed Monday.
"The autopsy
will confirm whether the bear was the exact cause of death or whether she had a
heart attack or something before and the animal found her injured," said
Sarah Coup-Fabiano of the Haute-St-Charles police department.
"It's just a
hypothesis, but it's our belief that the bear was responsible."
She added that
two cyclists were attacked by a black bear on the same path only two weeks ago.
Wildlife
officials have placed traps around the area in an effort to catch the bear.
The area includes
115 kilometres of running and cycling trails.
"Yes, it's
dangerous," Bedard said. "But, on the other hand, it's the beauty of
the sport to be in the forest."
Miller, who
started her run at 9 a.m., was reported missing by her trainer at 11