Posted on 06/02/2005 11:39:17 PM PDT by kingattax
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. (AP) - An 81-year-old woman who fell into her bathtub was trapped for six days before a concerned neighbor and a police officer rescued her.
The woman had no food in the room, said officer Peter Jung, who found her Wednesday morning.
"She couldn't move in the right way to do anything other than get handfuls of water out of the bathtub faucet," Jung said. "She was just glad we were there."
A newspaper carrier who lives in the neighborhood noticed papers piled up at the woman's home. The Kenosha News carrier, Karen Barker, left a note for a neighbor to check on the woman.
The neighbor, Larry Nelson, knocked on the woman's locked doors and noticed the woman's car in her garage.
"I got that funny feeling there was something wrong," he said.
He contacted the woman's landlord, who called police.
Nelson told Jung he hadn't seen the woman outside in a while, which was unusual. The officer forced his way inside the house. Nelson said the woman seemed alert.
"I walked into the bathroom and she said, 'Hi Larry!'" he said. "I asked if she had heard me rap on the doors, and she said, 'Yes, but what could I do?'
"I couldn't believe she was still alive."
The woman was taken to the hospital. Pleasant Prairie Police Chief Brian Wagner did not know her condition Thursday.
"When we found her, she was alert and oriented, and she knew how long she had been there," Wagner said.
Barker said many elderly in the neighborhood live alone.
"Somebody has to watch out for them," she said.
Good thing it was an 'real' neighborhood, rather than a newer bedroom development, in which case the HOA would just be getting around to tacking a citation on her door for the "unsightly" newspapers piling up.
Good to hear that she was rescued (I saw the story on tv).
Did she have prune hands when she got out of the tub?
Well, Larry Nelson is a kind soul- the kind I like to know. This lady's hardy spirit has served her well, indeed! kingattax, you sure seem to find the best news, my FRiend. Thank you for reporting an uplifting story- once again!
Judge Greer would have forbidden the water she had out of compashion. To bring her peace.
you're more than welcome...and thank you :)
How many newspapers need to pile up before one thinks that an elderly woman who hasn't been outside lately, might need some help?
Sheeeeesh!
...The woman had no food in the room, said officer Peter Jung, who found her Wednesday morning....Hey Peter!..who keeps snacks in the bathroom?....maybe someone with no sense of smell....Hello?
"Good thing it was an 'real' neighborhood, rather than a newer bedroom development, in which case the HOA would just be getting around to tacking a citation on her door for the "unsightly" newspapers piling up"
So true.
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