'She was lucky not to be attacked by wolves as there are many along this route and they often attack cattle.' Picture: Yury Darbaa

Little Saglana Salchak lives in one of the remotest parts of Siberia with her grandparents, some 40 km from the nearest village in Tuva region. She woke early and tried to stir her 60 year old babushka, but could not do so.

Her grandfather - completely blind - feared his wife was dead and realised the need for urgent help. He did not know when his daughter Eleonora, Saglana's mother, would next visit.

Saglana with her mother Eleanora. Local politics visit Saglana in hospital. Pictures: Yury Darbaa

He sent Saglana to their nearest neighbours at 6am, unable to see that it was still dark and dangerous, as well as perilously cold. The girl did not say anything but obediently took only a box of matches to light her way on her sad mission.

She knew from previous walks with her grandmother that if she closely followed the route of the frozen river she would eventually come to the home of cattle breeder Anay-ool Naidan some 8 km distant. There is no road or path, only the river.

She knew that if she closely followed the route of the frozen river she would eventually come to the home of cattle breeder Anay-ool Naidan some 8 km distant. Picture: Yury Darbaa

This family had a satellite phone and could summon help. But on the way the girl had to battle through deep snow as high as her chest. 'She was lucky not to be killed by wolves as there are many along this route and they often attack cattle,' said one local.

The breeder's wife noticed the girl on her walk some three hours after she set out from home battling through the ice cold. Exhausted, she uttered the words: 'It seems my granny is dead....'

The area is exceptionally remote and close to one of Siberia's mot mysterious landmarks, the Por-Bajin fortress. Picture: The Siberian Times, gdehorosho.ru

Anay-ool Naidan called doctors who rushed to the remote homestead and confirmed the grandmother's death from a heart attack. Saglana was sent to hospital, but found to be none the worse for her ordeal.

She has been visited by local politicians Yuri Kara-ool and Oleg Dudko, Aldyn-kys Congar and Radislav Navazhap saluting her bravery. Saglana lives some 250 km southeast of Kyzyl, the capital of the Tuva Republic.

The area is exceptionally remote and close to one of Siberia's mot mysterious landmarks, the Por-Bajin fortress.