Woman who became online sensation after being lifted into the air by shop shutters dies

A grandmother in Wales who became an internet hit after being hoisted 10ft into the air by a shop’s shutters has died.

Anne Hughes’ coat had got entangled in the electronic shutters as they were being opened and she was left dangling upside down.

A CCTV video of the incident, which thankfully left her unscathed, was viewed more than 100 million times.

Although intially somewhat embarrased, Anne soon saw the funny side and ended up embracing her newfound fame.

Now it’s emerged that she sadly passed away shortly before Christmas, after being diagnosed with caner.

A family friend said: ‘Anne was lovely and, luckily for her and everyone else, she had a good sense of humour.

‘She quite enjoyed her moment of notoriety and she definitely saw the funny side.’

‘It’s sad that she’s gone but she has left us with a memory that will always bring a smile to people’s faces.’

Anne was working as a part-time cleaner at the Best One Shop in Tonteg when she was taken for the unexpected ride in March 2024.

The video shows her waiting out the front of the store as shopkeeper Amir Akram – who is out of shot – begins opening the shutters.

Anne’s coat then gets caught and the shutters start to lift her up. She tries to unhook herself but with no success and keeps rising – the whole time holding on to her shopping trolly.

After hearing Anne’s cries Amir rushes out and manages to lower her safely down to the ground.

The store later posted the video on its Facebook site, with the caption: ‘Don’t hang about like Anne, come down to best one to get the best deals!!! The only thing going up in this shop is our staff, not the prices!!’

Anne told the media at the time: ‘It could only happen to me.

‘I was embarrassed, who wouldn’t be? But looking back I can see the funny side.

‘And I’ve quite enjoyed the fame, people ask me for selfies next to the shutters.’

In honour of Anne and her unexpected adventure, a graffiti artist spray painted an image of the granny in her famous upside down position on the shop’s shutters.

Although she took all the attention in her stride, Anne also wanted to get on with family life and turned down numerous appearences to appear on shows like Good Morning Britain and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.

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