An elderly woman died on Thursday in the commune of Quirihue in the Ñuble Region of Chile after being attacked by at least four dogs inside a residential property, according to preliminary reports and local authorities. The 78-year-old victim suffered severe injuries during the incident, which occurred while she was visiting family members at the home.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene following an emergency call placed around 18:00 local time. Joaquín Rissetti Villalobos, the director of the Quirihue Hospital, detailed the response effort and the victim’s condition upon arrival by medical personnel.
“An emergency call was placed to the dispatch service at approximately 18:00 hours regarding a person who had been attacked by dogs,” Rissetti Villalobos said, as reported by Radio Bío Bío and Chicureo.com. He added that when the hospital ambulance arrived, the woman was in grave condition, prompting emergency transport and resuscitation efforts that ultimately proved unsuccessful due to the severity of her trauma.
“It’s a situation that shocks our entire Quirihue community as well as our hospital staff, so we express our condolences to the family,” Rissetti Villalobos stated.
Police Investigation and Legal Procedures in Quirihue
Following the fatal incident, local authorities activated standard protocols for traumatic deaths. The case was immediately handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to oversee the necessary judicial and police procedures.
According to the Quirihue Hospital director, forensic examinations and related investigative duties are being handled by the Legal Medical Service (Servicio Médico Legal, or SML). At the same time, the Public Prosecutor’s Office instructed the Homicide Brigade (Brigada de Homicidios, or BH) of the Investigative Police of Chile (Policía de Investigaciones, or PDI) to deploy personnel to the scene.
Investigators from the PDI are tasked with carrying out specific diligences to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal attack inside the residential property.
Community Impact and Next Steps
Worth a look