27-year-old Jade Casey said that her mum, Sabrina Marlynn Lyttle, was found dead in the disabled toilet of The Gurkha Buffet Restaurant, Hotel and Bar in Blackpool.
She says that she doesn’t know why her mum went into the toilet, but it was days before the door was opened and the body of the 47-year-old was discovered, with the restaurant having had customers in during that time.
47-year-old Sabrina Marlynn Lyttle was found dead in the disabled toilets of a restaurant, three days after she went in (SWNS)
Jade said: “The police have told us that customers were complaining that they couldn’t get into the toilet, but they assumed something had happened with the lock.
“They then opened up the disabled toilet and found her on the Saturday morning. I’m angry because she could have been found sooner, they should have done the usual toilet checks.
“It’s heartbreaking because we know she was left in the cold, on her own. I know she was dead but it’s the fact she was there while people were eating and drinking.
“We don’t know the cause of death yet but there’s part of us that thought she might have been struggling and needed help and then could have been saved.”
She said that CCTV footage showed her mum going into the restaurant on 28 November last year and going into the disabled toilet, though they ‘aren’t sure’ why she decided to go in there.
Sabrina pictured with her mum, Christine (SWNS)
Police said they did not find drugs at the scene, and Jade says she thinks her mum ‘broke into the disabled toilet’ and ‘picked the lock to get in so she didn’t have to ask for a key’.
The 47-year-old’s daughter suggested that she might have gone in there ‘to get warm’ as she’d been ‘released from prison the day before’.
Jade said her mum was a’ funny and kind’ woman who ‘suffered with addiction‘ and was ‘in and out’ of being homeless for 25 years
A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “We were called at shortly after 1pm on Saturday, November 30th to a report of a sudden death at an address on Waterloo Road in Blackpool.
“Officers attended and sadly the body of a woman in her 40s was found dead inside the address. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this time. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for HM Coroner.”
The Gurkha Buffet Restaurant, Hotel and Bar said in a statement: “On Thursday 28th November 2024 at 8.34pm, a non-customer member of the public entered the premises and asked to use the toilets.
Her daughter said she was a ‘funny and kind’ person (SWNS)
“As the restaurant had already closed for the evening, directions to the pub toilets, which are in a separate area of the building, were given. Staff in the pub provided further directions to the general pub toilets and did not issue access to the disabled toilet. Access to the separate and locked disabled toilet is gained via staff as the facility cannot be opened with a RADAR key.
“The male and female toilets are deep-cleaned every morning and checked throughout the day, with the disabled toilet checked after every authorised use and cleaned as required, due to infrequent use.
“Access to the disabled toilet was not requested until Friday evening around 10pm. The staff with the assistance of other helpful pub customers were unable to unlock the door and as access had not been granted for the past 24 hours, it was reported as a maintenance issue to management.
“The following day on Saturday before opening, management was unable to gain access using all secure keys and removing the locking mechanism before alerting the police.
“We are aware of public posts that are full of information that is not correct, and we believe the speculations have not contributed positively to anyone affected, including the grieving family, the dedicated Gurkha staff and the community of Blackpool. We are aware of an ongoing inquest and will not be making any further public comments.”
Tributes have been pouring in for a couple who were found dead in a villa in Vietnam just days after announcing their engagement.
British tourist Greta Marie Otteson and her South African fiancé Els Arno Quinton recently became engaged, having posted a video announcing their milestone on YouTube days prior to their passing.
Greta was just 33-years-old, while husband-to-be Els was just 36, when their bodies were found in separate rooms in the same villa on Boxing Day, after a cleaner came to the holiday home located in Hoi An Town in central Quang Nam province.
Greta Marie Otteson and Els Arno Quinton recently became engaged (ViralPress)
Authorities are now investigating the tragic incident, with police officers finding empty bottles of wine at the scene.
Red Eye Studios posted a montage they made of the couple to celebrate their upcoming marriage, with the video showing Greta and Arno dancing and holding hands in all-white.
The tribute was posted with a description, reading: “Living in the romantic city of Hoi-An, our good friends Greta and Arno decided to surprise their families with a beautiful video to announce their engagement.
“This shoot was charged with so much emotion, reminding us how powerful the union of two souls can be.
“Congratulations to you both from everyone here at Red Eye Studios! We will miss you great souls…”
An emotional engagement montage video was shared by Red Eye Studios (ViralPress)
It is believed that they became engaged in December.
A Quang Nam Provincial Police spokesperson stated: “There were no signs of ransacking at the scene. The victims’ belongings and phones were untouched.”
There’s said to be no signs of scratches or physical trauma on the bodies, though empty liquor bottles have been collected from the room for analysis.
The pair had been staying at the tourist villa since July, though Greta is known for enjoying her travels, having lived in Dubai and backpacked around Asia before settling in Vietnam.
Arno’s friend Dayle Visser took to social media to share an emotional tribute, writing: “Rest in peace my brother. Thank you for always being the fierce friend you were. You saved me many a time.
Police are continuing the investigation into their deaths (ViralPress)
“You were real and lived life harder than most people could ever dream of. I love you and I will always miss you.”
One of Greta’s friends added that she loved him ‘unconditionally’ as his ‘bedrock’, adding that she gave him the freedom to do what he wanted in life.
They added: “There are two distinct things that are so prominent in my thoughts and that is her laugh and how much love they constantly [threw] at each other, regardless of who was around.
“They celebrated each other there and I know they will continue doing that, wherever they are.”
A Foreign Office spokesman stated: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Vietnam and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The mum of a man who died from his injuries after being hit by a car on Christmas Day has spoken out about his loss.
Aidan Chapman, 25, was rushed to hospital on Christmas Day in the early hours of the morning after being one of four people hurt when a car crashed into pedestrians in London.
The father-of-one died of his injuries on New Year’s Eve.
A man had driven on the wrong side of the road on Shaftesbury Avenue and a 30-year-old named Anthony Gilheaney was charged with four counts of attempted murder, along with causing serious injury by driving whilst disqualified and possessing a knife in a public place.
Police are treating Aidan’s death as a homicide.
25-year-old father of one Aidan Chapman died of his injuries after being hit by a car on Christmas Day. (PA)
In the immediate aftermath of their son’s death, his parents called Aidan ‘a loving, kind, funny soul and the world is a darker place without him’, and his mum has spoken out further.
Speaking to the Metro, Aidan’s mum Yasemin Akcajoca, 61, said she had ‘lost the light of my life’ after his death.
She said: “He was the light of everyone’s life he was so unique.
“On the day it happened he went out with a friend, he had so many friends. I didn’t want him to go out. The last thing he said was ‘I’ll see you in a couple of hours’. Then I got a call at 4am from the hospital. The worst call ever.
“The police took me to the hospital with blue lights. The journey was a nightmare it seemed to take forever. His injuries were too bad. He did not regain consciousness. I held his hand and spoke to him. It’s heartbreaking. I have lost my best friend.
“He was a great dad and a friend to all. He loved music and diving he was just such an amazing character. He wanted a career in music, music was his world.”
Aidan Chapman and three others were hit by a car in the early hours of Christmas Day on Shaftesbury Avenue. (Seiya Tanase/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
She went on to add that he was ‘brilliant together and really close’ with his 16-year-old sister and leaves behind a five-year-old son.
“We have not got his body so we cannot plan the funeral. It’s so stressful, we have been given so little information,” Yasemin said to the Metro.
“My daughter hasn’t come out of her room, we are very broken. I have to go forward for her sake.
“Aidan’ son is young but his mother said she will keep Aidan’s memory alive with him.”
The 25-year-old’s mum said that the many messages and offers of help she’d received after her son’s death was ‘a reflection of how popular Aidan was’.
Anthony Gilheaney is expected to appear before the Old Bailey on 24 January, the Metropolitan Police said the charges against him would be reviewed in the wake of Aidan’s death.
Featured Image Credit: Handout / PA
Joe Harker
Woman issues major hot water bottle warning after being burned so badly she couldn’t use toilet
Sophia Pauley said she ‘saw her skin melt’ after the scalding water seeped over her body
Warning: this article contains images that some readers may find distressing.
A woman who suffered horrific burns after the plastic on her hot water bottle ‘melted’ and the contents of it burst onto her skin has urged people to get rid of theirs.
Sophia Pauley explained that she was left screaming in agony after the scalding water suddenly seeped across her upper legs, inner thighs, ‘under her bum’ and on a section of her hand.
The 29-year-old, who lives in Hackney, London, explained that she often reached for a hot water bottle to avoid putting the heating on – but now, she’s vowed to never use one again.
She was left with serious burns, had difficulty walking and struggled to use the toilet for a week after horror struck on 19 November.
The Cardiff-native recalled how she had filled up her hot water bottle to get cosy in bed, only for it’s contents to pour across her body seconds later.
Sophia Pauley has urged people to chuck out their hot water bottles after her horror experience (Kennedy News and Media)
“I sat in bed and immediately thought I had left the lid off, because it was suddenly all over me,” Sophia said. “I was screaming, there was so much, I could just feel it burn underneath me.
“I threw my pyjamas off and ran to the shower. My sister ended up filling the bath with cold water because the shower head couldn’t cover the area.”
How to treat this kind of burn?
After calling an ambulance, she was instructed to submerge herself in the cold water for 45 minutes before she later received treatment in A&E.
The NHS advises that you should remove any clothing or jewellery from the affected area before cooling the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for up to 30 minutes.
You can then cover the damage with a layer of cling film to prevent infection before seeking further medical advice.
Sophia explained she was left sickened as doctors were forced to tweeze the ‘flappy’ skin, which the hot water had ‘melted’ from her thighs.
“I had never screamed in pain before in my life, it was an out-of-body experience,” she said. “That was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.
“I saw my skin melt, there was flapping skin on my leg, it was horrible, they had to tweeze it off, it was grim.
“It was a very painful week, I was very immobile for a while just because it was in such a sensitive area and going to the toilet was quite difficult.”
The artist admitted that she had owned the hot water bottle for almost four years and ‘should have binned it’, which is a lesson she ended up learning the hard way.
She was left screaming in pain after the hot liquid seeped over her body (Kennedy News and Media)
Sophia’s warning
That’s why she wants to share her story, as many people in the UK rely on them in the cold months – and Sophia claimed medics told her that these kind of incidents are becoming increasingly common.
“I’ve been using hot water bottles since I was a kid, I use them often in the winter just to get warm because my hands and feet always get cold,” Sophia said.
“After this, I’ll never ever use hot water bottles again. I have always known the danger but never heard of one splitting.
“I thought I had left the lid off but my sister told me the plastic had just melted and it poured all out.”
She claimed that doctors told her ‘lots of people’ head to hospital with hot water bottle burns in winter, despite her initially presuming she had a ‘freak accident’.
Sophia continued: “I was told they think there is cheaper manufacturing [of the bottles] and people are just not heating their houses enough.
“After going to the burns unit they said this is the case of the week, we had a 80% rise in the last few years, all from hot water bottle burns.
“Lots of kids coming in and parents not putting them [the burns] in cold water, or people not realising the burn is quite severe and leaving it and then it getting infected and causing lots of issues.
The London-based artist admitted she should have got rid of her four-year-old hot water bottle (Kennedy News and Media)
“Some burns that look quite insignificant can be caused from the hot water bottle not even spilling but burning on the skin.
“If anyone uses them, I would advise them to bin it.”
Sophia warned people that hot water bottles just aren’t worth the risk, but urged those who will continue to use them to at least ensure they are safe.
“Make sure to update them every single year and don’t risk it,” she added. “Don’t fill it up with boiling water or top it up with cold water.
“I would avoid them at all costs. There’s dangers even if it doesn’t leak, it can still burn you on your skin.
“I want to get the word out. People really need to look at the expiry dates and think again before using them.”
A month after the incident, Sophia’s burns have almost healed but they still remain sensitive – and she has to avoid the sun for at least two years.
Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and Media
Olivia Burke
Mum of eight-year-old girl found dead in hotel pool’s pipe speaks out after heartbreaking discovery
Aliyah Jaico was reported missing over the weekend
The mother of a young girl who died after being sucked into the pipe of a swimming pool has spoken out.
Aliyah Jaico was staying at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Houston, Texas, when tragedy struck at around 5:45pm on Saturday (23 March).
The eight-year-old was swimming in the hotel pool when she was somehow sucked into one of the pipes.
Sadly, after a 13-hour rescue attempt, Aliyah was found trapped in the pipe, having died from ‘drowning and mechanical asphyxia’, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science.
Investigators are currently trying to work out how the tragedy could have happened.
ABC
Following the incident, a spokesperson for the hotel giant said: “Hilton offers our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones in the tragic loss of a young girl at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow.
“This property is independently owned and operated by a third party. Hilton does not own, manage, or control the day-to-day operations of the property and does not employ any of the property’s staff or its third-party operators.”
The little girl’s family has taken a legal case against Unique Crown Hospitality LLC D/B/A DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow, and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., seeking $1 million in damages, with a trial by jury also requested.
And now, in an emotional statement on social media, Aliyah’s mum, Daniela, share ‘our last photo’ of her.
The post read: “They say we all have our destiny marked… but I can’t understand why yours was like this.
“Thank you, my love, for the eight years you gave me by your side. Thank you, my girl, for teaching me what love is and a noble heart.”
Facebook/Daniela Jaico
According to reports, the issue appears to have been the pool’s filter.
One pipe should have been sucking water out of the pool, the other should have been pumping it back in, however, it ended up pulling water out instead.
In a statement, The Houston Health Department confirmed that an inspection had been carried out following the young girl’s death.
It said: “Main drain document was provided and still valid. However small pool has 32-inch channel drains on the walls, without a valid document stating their function, date of installation and date of expiration.
“A full inspection was conducted, multiple violations were observed. Video footage is available, however, manager stated that the footage is being reviewed by legal, and we would have to wait to receive a copy.”
A Hilton hotels spokesperson told LADbible Group: “Hilton offers our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones in the tragic loss of a young girl at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow.
“This property is independently owned and operated by a third party. Hilton does not own, manage, or control the day-to-day operations of the property and does not employ any of the property’s staff or its third-party operators.”
