A 73-year-old Italian farmer has died after suffering an agonising attack in remote mountain woodlands by what local media say could have been a wolf.

Passersby found victim Albet Stocker still alive but horrifically injured in the Pinzago area, near Brixen, in northern Italy, on 19th February, a day after he went missing from a care home.

Local media reported he had serious bite wounds to his neck, arms and abdomen and deep cuts to his groin area as if a wolf or a huge dog had savaged and clawed at him.

Mountain rescue paramedics treated him for hypothermia and airlifted him to Bolzano Hospital but he died of his injuries.

DNA tests from swabs taken from the victim’s clothing will establish whether his wounds were inflicted by a wolf or a huge dog.

Investigators have requested an autopsy to find out just how he died.

Local media reported that if the killer beast turns out to be a wolf. Stocker will become the first victim of a deadly wolf attack in Europe in the last 150 years.

Italian wolves can weigh up to 45 kilogrammes (99lbs) and are protected under local wildlife laws.

The investigation is ongoing.