(ANSA) - BADIA TEDALDA (AREZZO), JANUARY 26 - A dog breeder was found dead in the snow in the Apennines, 5 km from the nearest town, Badia Tedalda.
Her body was in an isolated path.
According to investigations commissioned by her Arezzo prosecutor's office, she was struck down by a heart attack, almost certainly caused by the cold.
The victim, Cristiana Gugu, 50, had been living in the Cocchiola oasis for some time.
She lived alone in a wooden house in the woods.
In summer the area is frequented by hikers but in winter it is isolated and deserted and with the snowfalls of recent days there are even fewer people.
The three dogs that followed her were found dead, except for those of hers that remained in her kennel.
The rancher was found frozen in the snow, a chance discovery made on Tuesday by people who were clearing forest trails after snowfall that brought more than three feet of snow.
The death had occurred many hours earlier.
Prosecutor Julia Maggiore ordered a cadaveric investigation which confirmed that the woman was struck down by cardiac arrest due to cold and fatigue.
The magistrate gave the go-ahead for the funeral, the body is in Sansepolcro.
Precisely in the capital of the Alta Val Tiberina, where she had been to run errands, she had been last seen getting on a bus before returning to the mountains.
(HANDLE).