A 27-YEAR-OLD Nigerian woman, Patricia Masithela, met a tragic end after being mauled by a pack of starving dogs while visiting an abandoned villa in Latina, a town in Italy’s Lazio region.
According to a report by the UK Mirror newspaper, Masithela had gone to meet a male friend at the property, unaware that he was not home at the time. The derelict villa was reportedly inhabited by aggressive and malnourished dogs.
Neighbours heard her chilling screams
The horrific attack took place in the early hours of Monday. Distressed neighbours raised the alarm after hearing Masithela’s desperate screams as the dogs viciously set upon her. By the time help arrived, she was found lying in a pool of blood, suffering from severe bite wounds across her body.
Police officers were forced to shoot two of the dogs to allow paramedics to reach her. Emergency responders rushed Masithela to Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, but she succumbed to excessive blood loss and the severity of her injuries.
Authorities investigate dog ownership
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the ownership and condition of the dogs involved in the attack. Reports indicate that the animals were severely malnourished, and at least two of them had no microchips, making it difficult to trace their origin. The villa has since been seized by police for further examination.
A life cut short
Masithela, originally from Nigeria, worked as a barista in the local area and was the mother of a five-year-old daughter. Her untimely death has left her family and friends devastated. She is survived by her young child and siblings who also live in Italy.
Police have tracked down the villa’s owner, a 40-year-old man who was not present at the time of the incident. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of Masithela’s death.
