A woman had to be rescued by firefighters when she became trapped in a malfunctioning door of recently installed public toilets at Exmouth Foxholes on the Exmouth seafront. The incident, which occurred on a Saturday afternoon, prompted her boyfriend to call for help after she was stuck for over an hour.

The woman, identified as Caroline, found herself locked inside the newly-built toilet complex, causing concern for her boyfriend and onlookers. Andrew Bowen, who captured the rescue on video, highlighted the frustration and potential danger of the situation, emphasizing that the cubicles were soundproofed, making it difficult for anyone outside to know she was trapped.

Fire crews had to use various tools and techniques to free the woman, including cutting part of the door’s paneling and removing the locking mechanism. Despite attempts to tap the card panel for a response, they eventually resorted to using crowbars to pry open the door successfully.

Following the rescue, spectators expressed relief that the outcome was not worse, especially considering the possibility of a vulnerable person being in the same situation. Suggestions were made for improvements, such as installing emergency pull cords in all public toilets to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety and accessibility of public facilities, with calls for better design and emergency measures to ensure the well-being of users.