In a case that has drawn worldwide attention to British Columbia's southwest coast, another severed foot has washed up -- this time in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond.

The gruesome discovery was made by two men walking along the beach on No. 6 Road Tuesday night.

The foot was inside a white, size 8.5 Nike running shoe, according to Cpl. Annie Linteau of RCMP E Division.

The forensic identification team, the general investigation section, as well as the BC Coroners Service, all attended the scene late into the night.

Autopsy findings Wednesday confirm the foot is human. Additional forensic examinations are underway, Linteau said. 

DNA from the Richmond foot will be extracted and compared to known missing people or human remains previously discovered.

Mystery feet

Tuesday's discovery is the eighth human foot to have been found in a coastal region -- that includes the B.C. west coast, and the northwestern tip of Washington State -- since August of 2007. 

The first was matched the DNA of a man who was depressed and likely took his own life.

Two female feet found in Richmond were matched in December 2008. Another two male feet found on Westham and Valdez Islands matched last summer.

A right male foot, found in August 2007, remains unidentified.