Fiona Crabb was stuck for three hours because emergency services thought her call was a joke. (PIC BY DAN ROWLANDS / MERCURY PRESS)

A woman was superglued to her own front door for three hours in a cruel prank by bullies.

Emergency services used lubricants, oils and even cola to try and unstick Finoa Crabb but in the end had to take the handle off the door and saw her free in hospital.

The 28-year old says she was stuck for so long because emergency service call handlers thought her call was a joke at first.

She has since hit out at the unidentified pranksters- who she believes she saw running from the block of flats as she arrived home on Thursday evening.


She was only freed after doctors sawed the handle from her hand. (PICTURE: MERCURY PRESS)

Fiona said: ‘I got home after spending the evening with my friend who lives nearby and was confused when I realised the door handle was sticky.



‘I did manage to get the door open and woke up my partner Tony, but I just couldn’t free myself.

‘I don’t understand why anyone would do something so stupid. I’d rather not know who did it as I’d be too upset.’

Fiona added: ‘I was really worried, as it was quite painful. Tony was asleep so I had to wake him up and also called my friend Sercha, who I’d been with earlier.

‘She thought I was joking but I persuaded her to come round and help me. She phoned the ambulance who also thought it was all a joke.’

While the pair waited on the open landing outside the flat, several neighbours also came to try and help Fiona.

When the ambulance still hadn’t appeared, neighbours also called 999, with four calls placed in total before the ambulance appeared at around 11:30.

Fiona was told not to pull her hand free, at the risk of causing serious damage to her skin.

She said: ‘When the paramedics arrived, they tried so many things to get me free. They used Coca Cola, WD-40, Fairy Liquid, hot water and vegetable oil but nothing was working.

‘I started to get really scared, the longer I was glued on.’

Paramedics then contacted the fire service, who unscrewed the entire handle from the door to allow Fiona to be taken to Royal Oldham Hospital.

Before the bulky handle could be removed safely, the majority of it was sawn off by doctors to allow better access to Fiona’s palm.

Fiona said: ‘I was left just holding the main bit of the handle. They used a special solution to dissolve the glue, which thankfully worked, but I’ve been left with burns across my hand.

‘It was really scary as I didn’t have any kind of anaesthetic and I didn’t get home until 4am. Sercha came with me to hospital – Tony had to stay at home because our door was on its hinges!’

Fiona now has to apply vegetable oil to her hand at night and wear a blue plastic glove to keep the skin moist and allow it to heal.



Besides pain medication, she shouldn’t require any further treatment unless the burn begins to itch or becomes more painful.

Fiona’s locks have been changed by the council, although she worries about coming home to her flat in future.

Fiona said: ‘I’ve been in the flat for just over a year but never had a trouble before. I do feel safe where I live but I’ll be checking the handle every time I come home!

‘I think it was just strangers playing a prank, but I would be really angry if I found out it was someone I knew.’