A woman found herself trapped inside the newly installed public toilets at Exmouth Foxholes, near the lifeboat station, when the door suddenly malfunctioned. After being stuck for more than an hour, she was finally rescued by firefighters from Exmouth Fire Station.
The bright, modern toilet block, which was installed just this past January, became a source of distress on the afternoon of Saturday, August 16. Trapped inside the yellow-door cubicle, the woman was unable to open the door and had to alert her boyfriend outside, who then called emergency services.
A passerby who filmed the rescue reported seeing the woman’s frustrated boyfriend pacing anxiously outside, concerned that if he hadn’t been there, no one would have known she was trapped. The soundproof design of the cubicles means calls for help would have been muffled or unheard. The boyfriend expressed his intent to file a formal complaint, worried about the potential danger if a child or elderly person had been similarly trapped.
READ MORE: Dunelm Throw Receives High Praise for Perfect Size and Sofa Protection
READ MORE: M5 Delays and Congestion Increase After Crash Amid Holiday Traffic
The rescue efforts involved firefighters using various tools, including small wedges and crowbars, to force open the door. When attempts to unlock the door electronically by tapping the card payment panel failed, they resorted to cutting away parts of the panel and locking mechanism. After persistent effort, three firefighters finally pried the door open and freed the woman.
Comments on the video shared on social media highlighted public concern about safety in these new toilets. Many pointed out that the soundproofing, while beneficial for privacy, could pose serious risks if someone is trapped and unable to call for help. Suggestions were made for the East Devon District Council to consider installing emergency pull cords or other safety features in all public restrooms to prevent similar incidents.
This episode underscores the importance of ensuring that public facilities are not only modern and visually appealing but also equipped with adequate safety measures to protect all users.