Colleagues of a Dublin born woman, killed in a bear attack in Canada, tried to fend off the animal.

36 year old Lorna Weafer died after being mauled by a large male black bear while working on an oil field in Alberta.

She had emigrated to Canada with her parents more than 30 years ago and was working an an instrument technician.

Speaking to CBC News, Suncor Spokeswoman Sneh Seetal says her co-workers witnessed the attack.