Woman’s dismembered body found washed up in suitcase in Austria by walker

Witness says he spotted a pair of hands and feet inside the case

A walker discovered the suitcase in Traunsee Lake in Upper Austria, one of the country’s nine states (Rex Features)

A woman’s dismembered body has been found inside a suitcase washed up next to a lake in Austria.

The gruesome discovery was made by a walker in Traunsee Lake in Upper Austria, one of the country’s nine states.

He told prosecutor Alois Hubmer he saw a pair of hands and feet inside the suitcase, but was not sure if the woman’s entire body was inside the bag, according to The Local.

The suitcase was reportedly found near the Ramsauerwirt restaurant in the town of Gmunden, which is mainly a summer health resort, with a population of around 15,000 people. Gmunden is located at the north of the 25sqm lake.

An autopsy carried out on Sunday revealed the body was of a woman thought to be around 60 years old.

Police said it was quite likely the woman had died quite recently.

Officers added that the body was not believed to be anyone currently on the missing person’s register.

No other details have been released.