CANADA, Oct 6, (Agencies): In a heart-wrenching incident that unfolded at Canada's renowned Banff National Park, a beloved couple's camping trip took a tragic turn. Doug Inglis, 62, and Jenny Gusse, 62, experienced backcountry campers, met their unfortunate fate in a grizzly bear attack, leaving their families in shock and mourning.

Colin Inglis, Doug's uncle, fondly remembered the couple as adventurers who shared a deep love for each other and the great outdoors. They possessed extensive expertise in wilderness exploration, whether embarking on demanding treks or venturing into the rugged wilderness for whitewater canoeing in the North country.

The couple had been diligently sharing daily updates of their excursion with Colin, employing a Garmin inReach device, a popular GPS tool among campers and hikers that enables communication from remote locations. However, concern arose when they failed to reach their planned destination on Friday, September 29.

Alarmed by their absence, the couple subsequently assured their families of their well-being but disclosed that they had set up camp at an alternate location and were preparing dinner. However, as night descended, Colin received an alarming SOS message from their Garmin GPS that simply read, "'Bear attack bad.'"

Concurrently, Parks Canada Agency received an alert regarding a bear attack in the Red Deer River Valley, west of Ya Ha Tinda Ranch, around 8 p.m. MT on Friday. The Parks Canada response team, dispatched via helicopter at 10:31 p.m., encountered challenges due to overcast weather, preventing them from landing until 2 a.m. on Saturday. Tragically, upon their arrival, they discovered the lifeless bodies of the couple and their loyal border collie, all victims of a gruesome bear mauling.

Colin shared his belief that one of them had bravely confronted the bear while the other triggered the emergency alert. He recounted, "There was a struggle, and the struggle didn't stay in one place. One can of bear spray had been fully discharged, but this bear was not to be deterred."

In a grim turn of events, the response team was forced to shoot the grizzly bear, which was believed to be responsible for the attack. Parks Canada promptly cordoned off the area where the tragedy unfolded.

Parks Canada acknowledged the rarity of bear attacks, particularly fatal ones, stating, "Bear attacks are rare occurrences. Fatal bear attacks are even less frequent. Over the last 10 years, there have been three recorded non-fatal, contact encounters with grizzly bears in Banff National Park. These incidents were the result of surprise encounters. This incident is the first grizzly bear-caused fatality recorded in Banff National Park in decades."

The heartbreaking news of the deaths of the couple from Lethbridge, Alberta, was announced on Banff National Park's Facebook page on Sunday, evoking condolences and sympathy from the park's administration. "This is a tragic incident, and Parks Canada wishes to express its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims," Banff National Park conveyed.

Kim Titchener, a close friend of the family and founder of Bear Safety and More, emphasized the importance of outdoor education, stating, "It's really just the reason why we're seeing more attacks, which is more people heading outdoors and unfortunately not being educated on this."

Banff National Park is home to both grizzly and black bears, with an estimated 60 grizzly bears residing in the area, classified as a threatened population in local Alberta.

This incident serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers in the wilderness, prompting a renewed focus on outdoor safety and education. In a year marked by several bear attacks, it underscores the importance of being well-prepared and knowledgeable when venturing into nature's wild embrace.