English-speaking ‘mystery woman’ found injured on rocks in Croatia
Police say she can’t remember her name or how she came to be on dangerous area of remote island
Police are appealing for help to identify a cut and bruised woman rescued from rocks in the sea off a Croatian island.
The “bloodied blonde”, thought to be in her 60s, was spotted by a fisherman on a jagged outcrop on the isle of Krk, said The Sun. She “was on her own crying and the fisherman was unable to reach her for fear of getting stranded on the rocks”, The Times reported.
After local police were alerted, a team of 14 people used 4x4s and then walked two miles over the jagged rocks to rescue her. The woman reportedly speaks perfect English but told the authorities she had no idea who she was or how she had got there.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Her rescuers said she had no passport, documents or phone, and was so weak that she found it difficult to drink water. She had survived several nights in an inhospitable area where wild animals roam at night.
A local told Croatian news site 24Sata that the area where she is found, near the small village of Soline, is an “extremely inaccessible part of the bay with terribly sharp rocks, literally razors that cut the rubber on your shoes”.
They continued: “There is no life or animals except maybe wild boars or bears which know how to swim to here in search of food, but this is a rarity because there is no food, nothing. A woman that age certainly could not swim that distance, it needs exceptional strength.”
Another resident speculated that the woman might have “strayed while walking, fell, injured herself and lost her memory due to a blow to the head”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
According to The Times, she “was found at 10am last Sunday and detectives have released her details after failing to identify her”.
The mystery woman, who is 5ft 4in with shoulder-length hair, is now being treated in hospital.
Connected to the mainland by a bridge, Krk has a population of around 17,000 and is the largest island in the Adriatic Sea, covering 157 square miles.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Hainault sword attack: police hunt for motive
Speed Read Mental health is key line of inquiry, as detectives prepare to interview suspect
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Shardlake: a 'tightly plotted, gorgeously atmospheric piece of television'
The Week Recommends Arthur Hughes captivates in this 'eminently watchable' Tudor murder mystery
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Major League Baseball is facing an epidemic of pitcher's injuries
Under the Radar Many insiders are blaming the pitch clock for the rise in injuries — but the league is not so sure
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published