A doctor has 'suggested a yeti could have been responsible for the deaths of nine cross-country skiers in a notorious Russian attack,' a newspaper has claimed.

Sixty years ago, a group of skiers were killed and found dead with unexplained injuries after embarking on an expedition through the Dyatlov Pass in the Ural Mountains.

Some victims had fractured skulls and chest injuries, and the tongue and eyes of Lyudmila Dubinina, 21, and Semen Zolotarev, 38, were missing.

Others perished from hypothermia after fleeing their tents from 'an unknown compelling force' in only socks or underwear in the night.

A group of nine skiers (pictured) were found dead with unexplained injuries after they embarked on an expedition through the Dyatlov Pass in the Ural Mountains

A Russian newspaper has now reported that a leading doctor said the injuries of two of the group were likely from a 'big creature'.

This led the publication, Kommsomolskaya Pravda, to ask whether the incident could have been the work of a yeti.

The 'renowned doctor' is not named, but he claimed in the report that the broken ribs of Semen and Lyudmila were 'the result of the squeezing of their chests by some big creature'.

'Afraid of being mocked, the famous doctor asked not to disclose his name,' reported the paper in an investigation of the chilling case.

Semen Zolotarev (pictured) was found without his tongue and eyes after fleeing from an 'unknown compelling force' in the night

A leading Russian doctor has claimed Semen's injuries were likely the result of a 'big creature'

The only large animal that could have been in the area is a brown bear, but as the incident took place in February, they would likely have been in hibernation.

The skiers were known to have been intrigued by yetis or abominable snowmen.

In a log entry, a member of the group had written: 'Lately there has been a lively discussion about existence of yeti in scientific circles. According to latest data, yeti live in the North Urals near Otorten mountain'.

A host of theories have been put forward since 1959 as to how the group met their fate - including a natural disaster such as an avalanche, aliens, freak winds and a secret Soviet missile or weapons system.

This led newspaper Kommsomolskaya Pravda to ask whether the incident could have been the work of a yeti (Pictured: A description of Semen Zolotarev's body and belongings)

Lyudmila Dubinina, 21, was also found without her eyes and mouth after the notorious Dyatlov Pass incident

There have also been claims the group - which included one or two people with KGB connections - were on a mission to meet US agents.

There are infrequent claims of yeti sightings in Russia, especially in the Urals and Siberia.

In 2016, an alleged Bigfoot was seen crossing a road close to 5,213 ft high Mount Bolshoy Iremel in Bashkortostan region.

The same year the head of the village council in Kulyaba in Siberia was 'greatly scared' by a 'close encounter' with an alleged yeti. Footprints of a supposed beast were found soon afterwards.