Body found in search for missing Ausra Plungiene who vanished walking dog in Snowdonia

13 April 2023, 13:56 | Updated: 13 April 2023, 17:25

A body has been found in the search for a woman who went missing while walking her dog, police have said.

Ausra Plungiene, 56, from Prestatyn, North Wales, was last seen on Tuesday when she is believed to have left for a walk with her dog Eyora at about 10.30am but failed to return home.

A search across Eryri national park (Snowdonia) was co-ordinated after the alarm was raised shortly before 10pm on Tuesday and her car was found in a remote car park in the Rowen area in the early hours of Wednesday.

On Thursday, mountain rescue team members found a woman's body near Yr Aryg in the Carneddau mountain range, a North Wales Police spokesman said.

Ms Plungiene, 56, was reported missing earlier this week in Wales with mountain rescue teams and RAF Search and Rescue deployed to find her in the Carneddau mountains.

Now North Wales Police are following up on two possible sightings of the missing walker.

Ausra, who is from Prestatyn, North Wales, was last seen with her dog Eyora at 10.30am on Tuesday and the search commenced at 10pm after the two failed to return home from the walk.

Superintendent Owain Llewelyn said: "We are very concerned for Ausra's welfare."

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Mr Llewelyn said that the search has been hampered by difficult conditions in the peaks with heavy snow and rainfall complicating efforts.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue said in a statement: "With information from witnesses who spoke to her, and Ausra's route, teams have been searching the high mountains in atrocious conditions throughout the day and will continue at first light.

"The thoughts of all the teams are with Ausra's family and friends at this very difficult time."

Ms Plungiene is said to have been wearing a dark pink or purple padded jacket, black leggings and blue shoes when she disappeared.