Bear attack at Suncor site kills 1 worker

A Suncor employee has been killed by a bear at the company’s Oil Sands base, 25 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alta.

The RCMP say they were called just after 2 p.m. MT Wednesday after receiving reports of a large black bear attacking and killing a worker at the Suncor base camp.

The worker was declared dead on the scene.

RCMP members shot and killed the male bear, who was still in the area when they arrived.

Wood Buffalo RCMP have now turned the scene over to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development workers.

Officers with the Fish and Wildlife Division will also be investigating.

"We are shocked by this very unusual incident and there are no words to express the tragedy of this situation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to family, friends and co-workers," said Suncor executive Mark Little in a message released Wednesday.

"All of us need to focus on personal safety and I would urge everyone to be extremely vigilant in dealing with wildlife."

The company says it is in the process of informing the victim’s family.

The worker's name has not yet been released.