Thursday, May 01, 2008

Woman, 84, rescued after spending four days pinned under husband's dead body

An elderly woman spent nearly four days pinned underneath her husband's body after he died of a heart attack. Blanche Roberts was only found when the man who delivers the couple's newspapers became suspicious on seeing copies of newspapers piling up outside.

Bruce Pitts and his wife returned to the address just outside Marion, Illinois, a few hours after his round on Sunday, but got no answer when they repeatedly rang the doorbell. Mr Pitts then eased open an unlocked side door and saw the couple about two feet inside.

Mrs Roberts, a frail and petite 84-year-old, looked helplessly back at him as she lay with her right leg pinned beneath the body of her 77-year-old husband Fred. He had died last Wednesday evening of a heart attack after mowing the lawn. Mr Pitts described Mr Roberts as a "good-sized man".

"She was not scared, wasn't panicking," Mr Pitts said. "She was conscious, talking. Just peaceful. It was remarkable."

Her only request was for water – and she described her husband as "sleeping", he said.

Mrs Roberts was taken to a hospital nearby and is reported to be recovering well after her ordeal.

There's a news video here.

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