Feb 12, 2018

Frail Elderly Woman Trapped in Bath for 3 Days, Saved by Police

An elderly woman who was still living at home found herself in an alarming situation – she had got into the tub for her bath and was too weak to get out.

The frail woman was trapped in her bathtub for three days before the police were called to rescue her.

It was her neighbour who informed the police, after she was concerned when the woman was not answering her door for the mail, and still had her curtains closed at approximately 2pm on Wednesday. She had said that this was “out of character” for the woman in her 80s.

After hearing the elderly woman’s cries, the police forced entry into her Essex home. She was then taken to hospital after she informed them she had been stuck there for the past 3 days.

“When we found the woman she told us that she’d been trapped in the bath for up to three days,” said police constable Tom Matthews of Essex Police.

“When we arrived we could tell that something was wrong and we had no option to force entry to the property in order to help the woman, who was quickly assessed and taken to hospital.”

“In this case, a neighbour spotted a few minor things that were out of character and she rightly called for help.”

Something as simple as an elderly neighbour not answering their door, or not being seen for days is enough of a reason to call the police to check is they are safe and well.

Had this neighbour not done such a thing, who knows how much longer the elderly woman would have been trapped in her bathroom, and what would have become of her.

“We would like to praise her for taking the time to consider the welfare of an elderly person within her community.”

According to the police, the elderly woman had no family or friends nearby.

“The woman sadly has no nearby family or friends that are able to make regular visits to check on her.”

What happened in this situation could happen to any elderly person who lives on their own, so it is crucial that people look out for the each other in the community so that no one finds themselves helpless for days.

“This incident is an example of why it’s essential to check on your elderly and vulnerable neighbours.”

The condition of the woman is currently not known.

What do you have to say? Comment, share and like below.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Should family be present when a palliative care plan is written?

  A palliative care plan can help people to live as fully and comfortably as possible as they approach the end of their life, and are a way to keep family and health professionals informed about the care the person expects to receive. Ideally, the plans are written when the person is well, where decisions... Read More

Women in leadership speak up on International Women’s Day

If you ask my daughter ‘who runs the world’ she will proudly shout ‘girls’. But the statistics paint a different story. Women only represent 17.1% of CEOs and 31.5% of key management positions in Australia. With each generation, we make great strides in equality for women, but we still have a long way to go. In sectors such... Read More

Fashion Forward: How These Seniors Are Doing Style Their Way

What does fashion mean to you? Is it a classic black ensemble or pops of colour? Is it about being comfortable or standing out in crowd? Is it about dressing for the moment or dressing your age? Photographer Ari Seth Cohen has proven that there is no such thing as “dressing your age” in his... Read More
Advertisement