Woman mauled to death by wild dogs

A WOMAN has been mauled to death by a pack of wild dogs in Bulgaria, it emerged yesterday.

Margaret Ann Gordon, from England, was attacked by seven or eight animals as she walked her own dog.

Local residents rushed to her aid but were unable to save her, a spokesman for the British Foreign Office said.

Ms Gordon, who was born in Wallsend, North Tyneside, had lived in Bulgaria for several years with her husband.

The 56-year-old victim was walking her own dog when she was attacked near the village of Nedyalsko in the Yambol area.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We can confirm a British national died yesterday afternoon [Tuesday] after being attacked by dogs. Next-of-kin are aware.

“She was living out there, possibly for a couple of years with her husband.

“The regional police in Yambol said seven or eight dogs attacked her. She was walking her own dog when she was attacked.

“People living close by heard her shouts and screams and came to help.”

There were reports a shepherd finally managed to drive the dogs away, but Ms Gordon died from loss of blood before an ambulance arrived.

Packs of wild dogs are a common hazard in the country, with many beaches on the Black Sea out of bounds because of the animals. In the capital, Sofia, there are thought to be at least 35,000 street dogs.