Woman Who Lived Alone in Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years Airlifted to Hospital

Agafia Lykova, the last remaining member of the Russian Old Believer sect, was airlifted to a hospital for "acute pain" in her leg, The Guardian reports. When she made contact with the "mainland" on an emergency satellite phone on Friday, governor Aman Tuleyev ordered Lykova be evacuated from her riverside home to the hospital.

The Old Believers originally fled into the Siberian wilderness because they were accused of altering Russian Orthodox prayer books and traditions hundreds of years ago. Since then, descendants of the sect have remained completely secluded. The 70-year-old woman had reportedly not had any human contact outside of her family before the age of 35. She hadn't had anything to eat or drink than bread or milk. According to the Siberian Times, Lykova buried her only neighbor, geologist and fellow hermit Yerofei Sedov, in May, leaving her completely alone in the wilderness since then.

The Guardian reports doctors have "removed the acute pain" that was reportedly due to cartilage deterioration Lykova complained of since she got to the hospital. It's unclear whether or not Lykova will be permitted to return home after her hospital release.

Follow Tess on Twitter.​