ICYMI: Elderly woman ‘forgotten’ overnight in nursing home dies

Huis Maudie Kriel, a nursing home in Ceres, Western Cape, has reportedly launched an investigation after an elderly wheelchair-bound woman was allegedly left outside overnight by caregivers and died. 

The elderly woman’s body was only discovered the next day. 

ELDERLY WOMAN DIES IN NURSING HOME

According to News24, staff at the Huis Maudie Kriel nursing home apparently took the elderly woman, believed to be in her eighties, outside in her wheelchair on Saturday evening, 6 August, to have a cigarette.

It is understood that the staff forgot about her, and she ended up spending the entire night outside. The woman’s body was only discovered the next morning and she was still in her wheelchair.

Her family asked for privacy during this trying time. 

Western Cape police also confirmed the death of a woman at a Ceres home for elderly people and that the circumstances are being investigated. Police added that they will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

BODY FOUND FLOATING IN KZN BEACH

In a separate incident, another elderly woman was declared dead on scene after her body was found floating on Ramsgate Beach, on the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Coast.

Members of the public walking on the beach reportedly called for assistance when they spotted what looked like the figure of a human floating in the surf on Monday, 8 August.

According to emergency service, Netcare 911, bystanders jumped into the water and retrieved the body of the elderly female.

Medics reportedly assessed the woman, however she showed no signs of life and was sadly declared deceased on the scene.

“Circumstances leading up to the woman found floating in the water is not known, however the deceased was handed over to the SAPS Search and Rescue Unit for further investigation.” 

Netcare 911

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