Woman stuck in bath for four days 'saved by waitress' Published duration 17 October 2016

media caption Woman stuck in bath for four days 'saved by waitress'

An elderly woman, who was stuck in her bath for four days, was rescued by a waitress who realised she had not come in for her usual lunch and wine.

As first reported by the Southend Echo , Doreen Mann became stuck in her bath and kept herself warm by topping it up with hot water.

Fortunately, Sonia Congrave, 39, became concerned when Mrs Mann did not appear at Tomassi's cafe for a couple of days.

She called the police who helped the 86-year-old out of the tub last week.

image caption Sonia Congrave said she would be visiting her friend Doreen to help her out of the bath in future and would ensure she got a mobile phone

"Doreen is an amazing lady," Ms Congrave said.

"When she didn't come in for a day or two, we realised something was wrong."

media caption Doreen Mann says her reaction was not "natural"

Mrs Mann said she became stuck when she tried to get out of the bath.

"I went to turn over onto my knees to get out of the bath, and I couldn't," Mrs Mann said. "My body wouldn't turn over.

"I don't understand how calm I kept. It wasn't natural. Something kept telling me 'keep calm'."

She said she usually went to the cafe in Southend's High Street four times a week for lunch and a glass of wine and described the establishment as "her second home".

Mrs Mann described Ms Congrave as an "angel".

Ms Congrave said she now planned to pop round to Mrs Mann's to help her in and out of the bath.