Mary, 90, is home after rescue drama
A PENSIONER is back home and recovered after she was injured when trapped under a large stone fireplace.
Mary Bann, 90, lent on the fireplace in her Bollington home, which caused it to dislodge from the wall. The fireplace is thought to weigh more than 25 stone, making it extremely difficult to move and putting Mary’s life at risk. But she was saved when three firefighters heaved the fireplace off her.
Once stabilized, she was taken by ambulance to the trauma unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Mary spent four weeks in hospital and a further four weeks in Mount Hall Nursing Home in Bollington, as it was unsafe for her to return home, due to the significant damage caused by the fallen fireplace.
But this week her housing provider Johnnie Johnson said she has returned home and is doing well.
It was a stroke of luck that Mary was rescued as the alarm was initially raised by her Astraline emergency pendant, which she admits she often forgets to wear.
However at the time of the accident she was wearing it and pressed the button to alert a 24 hour response team.
The team were unable to get a verbal response from Mary over the two way system so sent a mobile responder to the property. When the responder found Mary trapped emergency services were called and upon arriving and seeing the customer trapped, the mobile responder called the emergency services, staying with Mary while the fire service, paramedics, and air ambulance arrived.
It took three firefighters to lift the fireplace off Mary. She said: “If I had been unable to press the red button the consequences would have been fatal.
“Having the red alarm button undoubtedly saved my life.
“I urge anyone living alone to wear one too.”