A 73-year-old grandmother, Anne Hughes, who gained widespread attention after an incident where she was inadvertently lifted 10 feet into the air by a shop shutter, has passed away two years after the incident. The humorous episode, which took place outside a village shop in Tonteg, South Wales, was captured on camera and went viral, amassing over 100 million views on social media.
The shopkeeper, Amir Akram, raised the electronic shutters without realizing Anne was outside, causing her coat to get caught and lift her off the ground. He rushed to her aid upon hearing her cries for help, swiftly lowering the shutters to rescue her unharmed.
Despite the embarrassing ordeal, Anne found humor in the situation and even enjoyed the unexpected fame that followed. She worked part-time as a cleaner at the shop and shared lighthearted anecdotes about the incident, expressing her amusement at being recognized by people seeking selfies with the infamous shutters.
Tragically, Anne, who had been battling cancer, passed away in the hospital surrounded by her family. Remembered fondly by loved ones as a woman with a good sense of humor, she declined multiple offers to appear on television shows like Good Morning Britain, preferring to stay out of the spotlight.
Acknowledging her unique moment of fame, an artist was commissioned to create an artwork depicting the incident on the shop shutters, a tribute to Anne’s light-hearted spirit. Despite rejecting the limelight, Anne continued to assist at the store even after her formal retirement in 2017, leaving behind a cherished memory that continues to bring smiles to those who remember her.
