A woman from Ukraine suffocated to death as she got stuck apparently trying to take winter clothes from a charity collection bin.

The 26-year-old – who has not been named by officials – was pronounced dead by an emergency doctor.

A passer-by called an ambulance after spotting her legs sticking out of the metal container’s flap in a car park in the town of Weinstadt, in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany on Saturday, 5th November.

Investigators believe that the woman had slipped while she was trying to pull out clothing locals had donated.

Robert Kauer, a spokesman for the city’s police headquarter, said: “Our team of investigators assume that the death had been an accident.

“So far, there is no evidence for the involvement of another person. We think that the woman had tried to take out clothes.”

The donated second-hand garments have been collected and given out by Malteser Germany, a non-profit organisation.

The institution released a statement saying: “Containers are constructed in a way that prevents any attempts to climb in.”

Malteser Germany underlined that their containers were maintained and checked for their safety by external experts.

The organisation said it would cooperate fully with police investigators.

It added: “What seems to have happened is harrowing to all of us.”

Local resident Soni Bachschmidt told broadcaster SWR: “I’m deeply saddened by what has happened. What a horrific way to lose one’s life.”

Another resident, pensioner Eugen Gaugel, said: “I’m stunned that such a thing can happen. I just cannot believe it. I just cannot get my head round the fact that a dead person has been found in our town.”

Elke Haerich told the SWR: “What’s terribly tragic is that it seems no one had missed her.”

Malteser Germany and other organisations managing such charity collection containers have put warning signs on them to keep people from trying to climb inside.

Weinstadt police have not revealed whether the victim was a refugee.