Couple in their 90s trapped in sixth floor flat after lift broke down
An elderly couple have been left trapped in their sixth floor flat after the only lift in their tower block broke down.
Mary and Kenneth Woodward, aged 95 and 98, live independently in their home at Endwood Court on Handsworth Road, Birmingham.
But the lift broke down on Saturday October 26 and the couple have not been able to leave since because they can’t get their mobility scooters down six flights of stairs.
The management company for the building, Pennycuick Collins, said the lift will be out of action until November 6.
Mary said: “It’s awful, I could scream. We’re not used to this confinement.”
The couple have been married for 62 years and have three children but two of them live abroad and one lives in Worcester.
They say they have a limited supply of bread and just one pint of milk and are scared about what will happen when their food eventually runs out.
At 98 years old, Kenneth goes out everyday to pick up his favourite newspaper and Mary likes to do the shopping.
He is irritated at the fact he can’t leave his flat and finds it stressful.
“I miss the newspapers you see," he said.
“I like to keep doing something. It is very difficult, no doubt about it," he added.
They were due to fly to Alicante to spend the winter months there but decided not to go due to advice from doctors about Kenneth’s health.
They say they have enough medicine to last them while the lift is broken but Kenneth is worried that in the case of an emergency, they won’t be able to get help.
They bought the flat five years ago because the transport links nearby are useful and the block is home to other elderly people.
Residents in the building are made to pay a service fee to help pay for any maintenance issues and Mary and Kenneth are charged £2,000 for the year.
Mary said: “We’ll starve to death and we certainly won’t pay the community fees when they come.”
Kenneth says he is so fed up he is thinking about trying his luck with the stairs.
He said: “I’m going to try and go down slowly, each floor at a time and see what happens.”
Their daughter Audrey Parker, 59, said: “It’s extremely frustrating, it’s like being in prison. Mentally it’s not amazing, it’s not good for my parents."
A spokesman for Pennycuick Collins said: “The failure of the lift door operator was unexpected and unforeseen."
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