An elderly woman whose eviction sparked nationwide protests over Spain’s housing crisis has died.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by Madrid’s tenants union.

The 87-year-old was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her apartment on September 23 after she was unable to afford rent increases.

The company that owned the flat later offered to allow her to return at a lower rent rate.

However, she was unable to sign the agreement after being hospitalised.

The incident resulted in thousands of people protesting in the streets in outrage.

It also sparked a political row which led the prime minister to call for early elections after failing to pass measures to address Spain’s housing crisis.