87-year-old pensioner stuck in bath for four days saved by waitress
AN 87-year-old woman stuck in her bath for four days survived by topping up the hot water and drinking from the cold tap.
Doreen Mann with waitress Sonia Congrave who called 99 after becoming worried about the regular
Doreen Mann was only rescued after a waitress at the cafe she visits regularly became concerned about not seeing her and raised the alarm.
Mrs Mann, from Southend, Essex, said: “I still can’t believe it happened and thank God I survived.
“I do not know how I did it. I mean I just couldn’t get out of the bath and I was there from Friday morning until Monday morning.
“The peculiar thing was I always hang my dressing gown on the boiler door but this time I hung it on the door which is right by the bath. Because I did I used that as a makeshift cover.
“I had that and the towel.
“It was frightening because I didn’t know how long I’d be stuck there.”
Doreen got stuck in her bath for four days surviving by topping up the hot water
According to the waitress all Doreen wanted after her ordeal was a cup of tea and a slice of cake
Waitress Sonia Congrave, 39, called the police after the elderly widow didn’t turn up at Cafe Tomassi, in Southend.
It was frightening because I didn’t know how long I’d be stuck there
She’s been a regular there five days a week for 13 years. When officers arrived at Mrs Mann’s home, they could hear her calling for help.
Mrs Mann said: “We are close, Sonia’s like a daughter to me, as I haven’t got anybody else.
“She’s getting me a mobile phone now because of me being upset in the bath all those days.”
The widower described her saviour Sonia as 'like a daughter'
Mrs Mann has been a regular at Cafe Tomassi in Southend five days a week for 13 years
Ms Congrave, a mother-of-two from Southend, said: “Doreen said she wasn’t sure she was going to make it.
“She said she drank the water from the tap and kept filling the bath and letting it out until she stopped and covered herself with a towel and robe.
“She is a really strong woman – all she wanted afterwards was her cake and a cup of tea.”