Eight dogs were detained at the scene of an attack that left a woman dead on Thursday, according to Surrey police. Detectives are keeping their owners up to date with the investigation.
Police cordons have been lifted after the death of the 28-year-old woman at Gravelly Hill, Caterham, a popular local beauty spot. The victim is believed to have been walking a number of dogs when she was attacked
Paramedics were unable to save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made.
“This is a tragic incident where a young woman has sadly lost her life. Our thoughts remain with her family and friends and the family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time,” said senior investigating officer DI Josephine Horner.
“Specialist teams have been carrying out forensic work at the scene but this has now been completed and the area has reopened to the public.
“I know this incident has caused real concerns locally and officers from the local neighbourhood team will be out in the area to provide reassurance for residents.
“The investigation to establish the circumstances around this incident continue and I urge anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police to contact us.”
Richard Bream, who runs the nearby Mardens Kennels, told the PA news agency he had never heard of a dog attack in the area before.
“That particular area, View Point, is an area where professional dog walkers will turn up in their van and take the dogs out and walk them,” he said.
“I’ve always felt you see some of these dog walkers have five or six, and they shouldn’t be able to do that.”
A man at an address near the scene, who asked not to be named, told PA the beauty spot was very popular with dog walkers.
“The dogs dispersed into different areas of the woods and the police helicopter was out looking for them,” he said.
A postmortem examination will be conducted by the Surrey coroner as part of an inquest into the death.
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