Australian woman found dead in Canadian bear country after a hiking tragedy
Australian woman found dead in Canadian bear country after tragic accident: ‘We lost our beautiful girl’
- Missing Australian woman confirmed dead in Canada
- Julia-Mary Lane, 24, was walking in bear country
- She had moved from Brisbane to Alberta in January
An Australian woman who went missing while hiking in Canada’s bear country has been found dead.
Julia-Mary Lane, 24, who moved from Brisbane to Alberta, Canada, in early January, was walking on the Bear Lake Trail near the town of Kimberley, 870 km east of Vancouver.
She was reported missing by her Canadian roommate, Janet Hamilton, in the early hours of Tuesday, Queensland time.
Ms Lane’s family had not heard from her since Saturday morning and seriously feared for her safety.
Her family confirmed Wednesday morning that she had died in a ‘unfortunate walking accident’.
Brisbane woman Julia-Mary Lane (pictured) has been found dead after taking a walk in Canada’s bear territory
“We have lost our beautiful girl,” Ms Lane’s family wrote in a Facebook post.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) conducted a search of Mrs. Lane after being contacted by her family and her roommate.
“The roommate was concerned about the woman, who was visiting the area from Australia, and loved hiking and the outdoors,” RCMP said in a statement.
Unfortunately, searchers found the woman dead. The death is not considered suspicious.’
Police discovered Ms. Lane’s SUV parked on the Bear Lake Trail before beginning the search for the young woman using RCMP dog services and a drone.
Ms. Lane’s SUV was found off Bear Lake Trail (pictured) in the eastern Canadian province of British Columbia
Ms. Lane (pictured) moved from Brisbane to Alberta, Canada. She had been sitting on the house waiting for a job in the financial industry
According to Ms. Hamilton, Ms. Lane had traveled to the trail in British Columbia as part of a week-long road trip.
Her flatmate posted to a local Facebook group calling for help finding the young Aussie after she went missing.
‘I haven’t seen my young Australian roommate, JM, since Saturday afternoon, and I wonder if anyone has run into her out for a walk?
“She came to Kimberley from Canmore for just a week, with plans to walk most days,” said Ms. Hamilton.
Mrs. Lane had been sitting on the house while waiting for a job in the financial industry in Canada and had used her free time to go for a walk.
Her family has asked for privacy.