Rising folk star Taylor Mitchell killed by coyotes

RIGHT: Taylor Mitchell is pictured in this undated promotional photo. A rare coyote attack has claimed the life of a young folk singer-songwriter from Toronto. Police say 19-year-old Taylor Mitchell received severe bites while she was hiking alone yesterday along the Skyline trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ HO- LW Communications

By staff writers
news.com.au
October 29, 2009 08:04am

A PROMISING young Canadian musician has been attacked and killed by coyotes while on a tour promoting her new album.

Taylor Mitchell, 19, was considered a rising star of the folk music scene, having just earned a Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination.

She was hiking alone on the Syline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park when a pair of coyotes attacked her.

Tourists rushed to her aid when they heard her screams and found Mitchell bleeding heavily from mulitple wounds "all over her body", according to The Canadian Press.

"She was losing a considerable amount of blood from her wounds," paramedic Paul Maynard told TCP.

One of the animals was later shot by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but the other got away.

Park officials said it was highly unusual for coyotes to be involved in such an aggressive attack.

Mitchell was due to play at a concert after her hike and was on her first tour of the Candaian east coast.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26275521-23109,00.html

(Submitted by Peter)