Yesterday, a woman found a right foot inside a black Adidas men's running shoe on a beach near Campbell River, a fishing town on Vancouver Island.
'You could see the two bones coming up out of the shoe,' said Sandra Malone, who manages a tourist campground 220km northwest of Vancouver. 'It's just the bone and a lot of seaweed around the ankle,' she said.
Since August five right feet and one left foot have been found along the rugged south coast of British Columbia, sparking speculation about a possible murder mystery, mafia links or that the feet are remains of airplane or boat accident victims.
Scientists say the feet could have drifted dozens or thousands of kilometres because human body parts can remain intact in water for years when protected by shoes or sturdy clothing.
Body parts can become separated after they have been in the water for a long time and because the soles of runners in particular are buoyant, the feet are brought to the surface.
Canadian Police Sergeant Mike Tresoor told local media the foot was a man's size 10.
There has been speculation that the feet may belong to four men whose bodies vanished after their float-plane crashed on Quadra Island, near Campbell River, in February 2005.
But the British Columbian Coroner's Service said DNA tests have not yet matched the profiles to the missing people.
Adding to the mystery is that the sixth foot was found hundreds of kilometres north of the site where the first five feet were found.
The Canadian major crime unit is coordinating the investigation with local police.
