The tot was saved from certain death by her loyal puppy who kept her warm for more than a week before heading off back home to seek help.

In an incredible tale, rescuers have described how little Karina Chikitova wandered alone into one of Siberia’s coldest regions, the Sakha Republic, looking for her father.

She survived by eating wild berries and drinking river water in a territory roamed by wild bears and wolves.

At night she slept in a bed made of long grass, accompanied by her puppy who had followed the young girl into the woods.

Karina's unnamed mother thought that the little girl had gone with her father Rodion Chikitova on a trip to his native village on July 27th.

But the father did not realise that Karina and her beloved puppy had followed him and became lost in the taiga.

It was only four days later when the mother was able to call Mr Chikitova that she realised, to her horror, that her daughter was missing and a search was launched.

Men on the ground and in helicopters searched for five days to no avail.

Those on the ground were forced to defend themselves from a bear, highlighting the dangers the tot faced.

Meanwhile the tall grasses, which Karina slept on, made it impossible for search helicopters and drones to spot her.

Sakha is also Siberia's coldest region in winter but at this time of year the overnight temperatures were slightly above zero, around 6C.

After nine days, the dog - which has not been named despite its heroic role - returned to the girl's village of Olom in Olyokminsky district, and everyone feared the worst.

Afanasiy Nikolayev, spokesman for the Sakha Republic Rescue Service, said: "Two days before we found Karina her puppy came back home.

"That was the moment when our hearts sank, because we thought at least with her dog Karina had chances to survive - night in Yakutia are cold and some areas have already gone into minus temperatures.

"If she was to hug her puppy, we thought, this would have given her a chance to stay warm during nights and survive.

"So when her dog came back we thought 'that's it' - even if she was alive - and chances were slim - now she would have definitely have lost all hopes. Our hearts truly and deeply sank."

But to their astonishment, the heroic pooch led rescuers through the wilderness to the lost girl.

She was found barefoot, wearing just a red undershirt and purple stockings. Astonishingly, the worst she suffered were mosquito bites and scratches to her feet.

Mr Nikolayev explained: "Suddenly with the dog's help we saw Karina siting in the grass.

"We rushed to her, got her a little tea and grabbed her to run back to the car and doctors."

He continued: "I carried Karina myself to the car, and she was light as a bird. She weighed hardly ten kilograms - but amazingly she was fully conscious."

Karina was given food and water and told rescuers how she survived eating berries and drinking water from the streams.

Ekaterina Andreeva, a psychologist with the rescue team, said: "We can say that the girl's mind was not hurt. She is talking, she reacts normally to everything around her.

"She recalls what happened to her."