Tourist froze to death trapped in an airing cupboard for a week
Mum’s tragic end making last visit to family’s holiday home
Former cop Elizabeth Isherwood A FORMER police officer died after getting trapped in an airing cupboard while on holiday.
Elizabeth Isherwood, 60, is believed to have mistakenly wandered inside when she got up to go to the toilet during her first night.
An inquest heard she suffered “sheer bad luck” as the round door handle inside the cupboard broke.
She ripped off some water pipe to force her way out, but was soaked by the leak and suffered hypothermia.
Other guests heard banging coming from her apartment for 24 hours but thought it was workers carrying out maintenance.
Her naked body was found six days later when she failed to check out and water started to leak from the property. Elizabeth’s son, Craig, 32, said yesterday: “I was devastated when I found out my mum had passed away, but to hear how she died was truly horrific.
“I still can’t believe that she was on her own there for so long before anyone found her.
“She must have been so scared when she realised she was trapped.”
Mum-of-one and gran-of-two Elizabeth died at the family holiday apartment in Macdonald Plas Talgarth Resort near Machynlleth, Mid Wales. The timeshare had just been sold and staff offered her vouchers for one last visit. As friends could not join her, she went alone on Saturday, September 23.
Her body was found the following Saturday. Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said Elizabeth had nearly smashed through the plasterboard wall but hit a picture frame, which she may have thought was brick. He told the Caernarfon hearing: “She probably thought she couldn’t get out.”
Recording a verdict of misadventure,the coroner added: “The cause was the failure of the knob in the airing cupboard door.”
Son Craig said: “We are all absolutely devastated to find out what happened.
“Mum was so sporty, fit, healthy and loved playing golf. It just made me so angry. “Anger towards how it was possible someone could have been left in there so long, and how it could have happened in the first place.”
He said the family was considering legal action against the resort.
Elizabeth’s ex-husband Clive, 65, said: “It must have been awful for her, to be trapped in there.”
A resort spokesman said: “Our sincerest condolences go out to the family of Ms Isherwood. We are grateful for the skilful and sensitive way the police and other authorities have handled the investigation.”
I still can’t believe she was there for so long before she was found CRAIG ISHERWOOD
ON HORRIFIC DEATH OF MUM