( CNN ) -- A rising Canadian folk singer was killed by coyotes this week in a national park in Nova Scotia , a park spokesman said Thursday . Taylor Mitchell , 19 , was at the beginning of the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park on Tuesday afternoon when she was attacked , according to Chip Bird , the Parks Canada field unit superintendent for Cape Breton . Bird said hikers saw the coyotes attacking Mitchell and called 911 . She was airlifted to a hospital in Halifax , where she died about 12 hours later , he said . Mitchell was recently nominated for Young Performer of the Year honors by Canadian Folk Music Awards . She was touring the Maritime provinces and had a break between gigs to go hiking Tuesday , her manager , Lisa Weitz , said in an e-mail . `` She loved the woods and had a deep affinity for their beauty and serenity , '' she wrote . `` Words ca n't begin to express the sadness and tragedy of losing such a sweet , compassionate , vibrant , and phenomenally talented young woman , '' Weitz said . `` Her warmth , loving nature , astounding artistry , and infectious enthusiasm will be so missed and forever remembered . '' Read more about who Taylor Mitchell was . Mitchell , who was originally from the Georgian Bay area in Ontario , lived in Toronto , Weitz said . Bird said the area where the attack occurred is popular and well traveled . It remained closed , and park authorities had shot one coyote believed to be involved . A pathologist will test the animal 's body for diseases that might have triggered the attack , he said . Searches for other aggressive animals in the park continue , he said . `` Public safety is our primary concern , '' he said . He said no other coyote attacks had ever occurred in the park . `` We 've had coyotes approach people too closely , '' he said , and about six years ago one nipped a person . That animal was killed because of `` lack of fear , '' he said . But Tuesday 's attack is `` unprecedented and a totally isolated incident , '' he said . In a written statement , Emily Mitchell described her daughter as `` a seasoned naturalist and well versed in wilderness camping . She loved the woods and had a deep affinity for their beauty and serenity . Tragically it was her time to be taken from us so soon . `` We take a calculated risk when spending time in nature 's fold -- it 's the wildlife 's terrain , '' Emily Mitchell 's statement continued . `` When the decision had been made to kill the pack of coyotes , I clearly heard Taylor 's voice say , 'please do n't , this is their space . ' She would n't have wanted their demise , especially as a result of her own . She was passionate about animals , was an environmentalist , and was also planning to volunteer at the Toronto Wildlife Centre in the coming months . '' Send your stories , photos of Mitchell . Michael Johnston , Mitchell 's producer for her debut album , `` For Your Consideration , '' said the singer was a `` brilliant and beautiful light that people were naturally drawn to . '' `` She was so young and talented . Her big dreams were a perfect match with her big , kind heart . '' He said he and his family would soon be organizing a celebration of her life . Coyote attacks on humans are extremely rare , said Michael O'Brien , wildlife manager of furbearers and upland game for Nova Scotia . It is `` not expected or normal behavior , '' he said , although he said there had been aggressive incidents in Nova Scotia before , but no deaths . Illness , injury and familiarity with humans can affect an animal 's behavior , he said .
Taylor Mitchell was at the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park . Hikers saw coyotes attack Mitchell and called 911 ; she later died at a Halifax hospital . Park where attack occurred remains closed ; coyote believed to be involved has been shot . Mitchell was nominated for Young Performer of the Year by Canadian Folk Music Awards .