A woman has been mauled to death by a group of eight dogs that she was hired to look after.
The dog walker, a 28-year-old woman from London, was attacked in Carterham, Surrey, on Thursday.
The attack reportedly took place after one of the dogs bit a fellow dog walker, before going after the woman.
The rest of the dogs then followed "like a pack of small wolves", according to one witness.
A pair of horse riders discovered the woman as she lay dying.
One told The Sun: “That image will haunt me for a long time.”
Paramedics were unable to save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said eight dogs were captured at the scene and are currently being kept in kennels while the investigation is ongoing.
The dogs were not reported to be banned breeds and the second woman not thought to be linked to the woman who died, police said.
No arrests have been made.
Detective Inspector Josephine Horner, senior investigating officer, said: “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.
“Specialist teams have been carrying out forensic work at the scene but this has now been completed and the area has re-opened 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.”
Police cordons have now been lifted from the scene.
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.
He said: “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.
“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 woman walking a border collie past one of the police cordons, who asked not to be named, said she was shocked by the incident.
She said: “It’s a nice circular woodland walk and we’ve never had any issues before. It is so shocking, normal dogs surely wouldn’t do that.”
A man at an address near the scene, who asked not to be named, told the PA News Agency the beauty spot was very popular with dog walkers.
He said: “The dogs dispersed into different areas of the woods and the police helicopter was out looking for them.”
Colin Tennant, of the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association, told The Sun that an "adrenaline rush" among the dogs may have sparked the attack.
He said: “The high energy of a fight situation can redirect more aggression back into the melee.
“Possibly the dog walker has lost balance and has been targeted.
“When energy gets up in a situation like that, inter-pack fighting can take place and dogs can bite anyone, even if they are trying to help.”
A post-mortem examination will be conducted by the Surrey coroner as part of an inquest into the death.
