A grandmother who gained widespread attention for being lifted 10ft into the air on a shop shutter has passed away two years after the incident that made her an unexpected sensation.
Anne Hughes, aged 73, found herself suspended outside the village store in Tonteg, near Pontypridd in South Wales, as the shop shutter unexpectedly elevated her with her shopping trolley, a moment captured on camera and later watched over 100 million times on social media. Sadly, Anne fell ill last year and recently succumbed to her illness in the hospital just before the holiday season.
The incident unfolded when shopkeeper Amir Akram raised the electronic shutters, unknowingly entangling Anne’s coat and causing her to be lifted off the ground. Hearing her calls for help, Mr. Akram rushed to assist the mother-of-three, swiftly lowering the shutters to safely bring her back down.
Despite the unexpected ordeal, Anne, who worked part-time as a cleaner at the shop, returned to the ground unscathed and found humor in the situation. Reflecting on the incident, she remarked, “It could only happen to me. I was embarrassed, who wouldn’t be? But looking back I can see the funny side. I’ve quite enjoyed the fame, people ask me for selfies next to the shutters.”
Having battled cancer, Anne passed away surrounded by her family in the hospital last month. A close family friend described her as lovely and possessing a great sense of humor, noting that while her departure is saddening, she leaves behind a memory that will bring smiles to many faces.
Following the incident, an artistic representation of Anne was painted on the shop shutters as a tribute. Despite the attention, Anne declined various offers to appear on television shows, choosing to maintain a low profile.
Artist Tee2Sugars, commissioned to create the artwork, expressed amusement at the moment captured and the opportunity to immortalize it on the shutters. The painting, completed at the Best One convenience store in Tonteg, drew positive reactions from passersby, with some mistaking the artist for the renowned street artist Banksy.
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