Hrishikesh Koloth, a 27-year-old mixed martial artist from Kerala, India, who was killed in a rare bear attack in northern Saskatchewan earlier this month, is being remembered by his family as a fearless fighter who came to Canada to pursue his dream of competing in the UFC.
Koloth was working as a contract technician at the Zoo Bay uranium exploration site, operated by UraniumX Discovery Corp., when he was fatally attacked by a black bear on May 8. The remote site is located near Nordbye Lake, about 850 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
Having moved to Canada three years ago, Koloth lived in Penticton, B.C., with his older brother, Arjun. He had trained in mixed martial arts for more than a decade, first in India and later with Skoden Martial Arts in Penticton, while working toward a professional fighting career.
“That was his dream. That’s why he came here,” Arjun said. “He wanted to fight in the UFC.”
According to his brother, Koloth had recently secured a job as a boxing coach in Vancouver, set to begin in June, but viewed employment as a way to support his ultimate goal of becoming a professional fighter.
Arjun described his brother as humble, courageous and deeply devoted to his family, saying he never backed down from a challenge.
“Win or lose, he just wanted to fight,” he said. “Innocent heart, fighter’s soul.”
Following the attack, another worker at the site shot and killed the bear. The animal was later transported to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon for a necropsy.
UraniumX Discovery Corp. confirmed the death of one of its contractors and extended condolences to Koloth’s family.
Arjun has since travelled to Kerala for his brother’s funeral and said he hopes Hrishikesh will be remembered not for the tragedy, but for the determination and passion that defined his life.
The incident marks only the fourth recorded fatal bear attack in Saskatchewan’s history and the first since 2020.
