A grandmother, who gained widespread attention after being lifted 10ft into the air by a shop shutter, has passed away two years following her sudden rise to fame. Anne Hughes, aged 73, was left suspended outside a village shop in Tonteg, near Pontypridd, South Wales, with her shopping trolley entangled in the shutter, a moment that garnered over 100 million views on social media.
During the incident, the shopkeeper, Amir Akram, inadvertently raised the shutter, hoisting Anne off the ground until he heard her calls for help. He swiftly rushed to lower the shutter, bringing Anne safely back to the ground. Despite the embarrassing ordeal, Anne, who worked part-time as a cleaner at the shop, found humor in the situation and joked about her unexpected celebrity status.
Tragically, Anne, who had been battling cancer, passed away in a hospital last month surrounded by her family. Recalling her cheerful demeanor, a family friend mentioned Anne’s positive outlook and humor, leaving behind fond memories for those who knew her.
Not seeking fame, Anne declined offers to appear on television shows like Good Morning Britain, focusing on her retirement in 2017 while continuing to assist at the store. The shop immortalized the memorable incident by commissioning an artist to paint the scene on the shutters, capturing the humorous spirit of Anne’s unexpected airborne adventure.