Ausra Plungiene: Family pay tribute to dog walker who vanished in Snowdonia after her body is found in two-day search
THE heartbroken family of dog walker Ausra Plungiene whose body was found after a two-day search have paid tribute to her.
Ausra, 56, went missing after heading for a hike in Snowdonia, Wales last Tuesday morning.
The following day police tragically revealed that a body had been discovered during their extensive search.
Officers also confirmed Ausra’s dog had been found alive close to the scene of the tragedy.
Ausra’s heartbroken family have today said: “All of our family would like to thank everyone for their support, love and good wishes that they have given us over the last few horrific days.
“Friends, family, work colleagues and complete strangers, all have supported us. We can say no more than ‘thank you from the bottom of our hearts’.
“We cannot express enough thanks to so many people that gave up their time to search for our beloved Ausra.
“The police and all their work in front and behind the scenes to trace activities, look after us, support and advise us has been truly remarkable.
“The mountain rescue service, RAF, support helicopters, army and every single individual that we cannot name tried their hardest to find her, through at times very difficult conditions.
“We cannot thank you all enough.
“Ausra is off on another adventure, and we are sure the lives she touched while this angel was with us have been enhanced.”
The mum-of-two, who lived in the Prestatyn area, was believed to have left her home for a walk at around 10.30am with her dog.
By 10pm the keen hiker and her dog had not returned – and her family alerted the police.
Ausra’s car was located by officers in the Rowen area during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
It sparked a huge search involving cops, search and rescue helicopters and volunteers as horrendous weather conditions swept across North Wales.
Temperatures plunged to below 2C and the Met Office also issued a yellow weather warning for wind.
In the hours after her body was found, Ausra’s daughter told of her pain in a touching Facebook post.