Family pay tribute to ‘angel’ as they thank those who searched for dog walker

The family of a missing dog walker who was found dead on Thursday have paid tribute to their “angel”.

Ausra Plungiene, 56, was last seen on April 11 when she is believed to have left her home in Prestatyn, North Wales, to walk her dog Eyora at about 10.30am but failed to return.

A search across Eryri (Snowdonia) national park began after the alarm was raised shortly before 10pm on that day.

Her car was found in a remote car park in the Rowen area in the early hours of Wednesday, North Wales Police said.

Mountain rescue teams found her near Yr Aryg in the Carneddau mountain range in Snowdonia on Thursday.

A dog was found alive at the location.

Her family thanked emergency services for the search effort in a statement issued through North Wales Police.

They 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.”