Elderly Woman Rescued From Home Overspilling With Garbage In Penang
Four Civil Defence Force personnel carried the woman to safety on a stretcher.
By Laila Zain — 16 Oct 2024, 10:19 AM
The Civil Defence Force have rescued an 86-year-old woman who was trapped in her home due to the overwhelming amount of garbage she had hoarded
The Penang Civil Defence Force responded to a distress call from the woman's family on Sunday, 13 October.
The family reported that the elderly woman, who lived alone on Jalan Mano, George Town, was unwell and unable to navigate through the massive amounts of rubbish that had overtaken her double-storey house.
Muhammad Aizat Abdul Ghani, the Civil Defence Force's northeast district officer, said she was unable to walk and had difficulty leaving her home due to the accumulated garbage, as reported by the New Straits Times.
The clutter was not confined to the inside of the home as piles of junk could be seen on the porch, which also housed three cars
"Don't worry, I'm all good. I'm just having a meal now. My family comes to visit once in a while. I've actually called for cleaners to come and tidy up the place but they didn't show up," the woman told reporters from an upstairs window.
"Why don't you all go on home. I will move when I decide to move," she added.
Four Civil Defence Force personnel carried the woman out on a stretcher as she was unable to pass through the garbage on her own
According to Muhammad Aizat, the woman planned to live in an old folk's home nearby, but was unable to leave her house, thus her family reached out for assistance. The elderly woman has diabetes, hypertension, hearing problems, and is physically frail.
It is believed that the woman, who has never married and lives alone, began hoarding many years ago. Her family shared that she often suffered falls and would frequently call them late at night for assistance, further escalating their concerns.
The family claim to have her consent to be moved to an old folk's home.
