A 27-year-old mixed martial arts aspirant from Kerala, India, has been identified as the man killed in a rare fatal bear attack in northern Saskatchewan on May 8. Hrishikesh Koloth was working as a contract technician at a uranium exploration site near Nordbye Lake—roughly 850 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon—when he was attacked by a black bear. The site is part of the Zoo Bay property operated by Vancouver-based UraniumX Discovery Corp.

A 27-year-old mixed martial arts aspirant from Kerala, India, has been identified as the man killed in a rare fatal bear attack in northern Saskatchewan on May 8.

Hrishikesh Koloth was working as a contract technician at a uranium exploration site near Nordbye Lake—roughly 850 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon—when he was attacked by a black bear. The site is part of the Zoo Bay property operated by Vancouver-based UraniumX Discovery Corp.

A civilian at the site shot and killed the bear. The animal has been transported to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon for a necropsy. UraniumX Discovery Corp confirmed the death of its contractor and extended its thoughts and prayers to Koloth’s family.

A Fighter’s Dream

Koloth had trained in MMA for more than a decade—first in India, then in Canada after moving there three years ago. He lived in Penticton, B.C., with his older brother Arjun Koloth and trained at Skoden Martial Arts.

“That was his dream. That’s why he came here,” Arjun Koloth said. “He wanted to fight in the UFC”.

His brother described him as humble, fearless, and fiercely loving toward his family. Arjun said Hrishikesh was about to start a job as a boxing coach in Vancouver in June, but added: “Job is just a means to an end. The end was to fight”.

Arjun received the news at 4 a.m. PDT when an RCMP officer knocked on his door to inform him that his brother had passed away. He is now in Kerala for his brother’s funeral.

“I want him to be remembered for what he does. Innocent heart, fighter’s soul. Warrior,” Arjun said. “I’d just like to say he fought [the] bear. That’s all … bear didn’t attack him. He attacked the bear”.

Rare Fatal Incident

This is only the fourth fatal bear incident in Saskatchewan’s recorded history. The last occurred in 2020, when 44-year-old Stephanie Blais was killed near her family’s cabin north of Buffalo Narrows.

Fatal bear attacks remain extremely uncommon in the province, making Koloth’s death particularly notable.

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