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A GRANDMOTHER who became a viral TikTok sensation after CCTV footage captured her being unexpectedly lifted into the air by store shutters has sadly passed away at the age of 73.
Anne Hughes, who was left hanging 10 feet in the air while calling for help two years ago, died shortly before her passing after battling cancer.
Anne dangles helplessly after being caught in the shop shuttersCredit: Kennedy News
The shop manager is shown helping the distressed grandmother downCredit: Kennedy News
Anne remarks on her fortunate sense of humorCredit: WNS
A family friend shared with the MailOnline : “Anne was a lovely person and, fortunately for her and everyone around her, she had a wonderful sense of humor.
“She enjoyed her moment of fame and definitely appreciated the humorous side of it.
“It’s heartbreaking that she’s gone, but she has left us with a memory that will always bring smiles to people’s faces.”
Anne was outside the Best One shop in the village of Tonteg, near Pontypridd, South Wales, in March 2024 when her coat became entangled in the electric roller shutter.
She was lifted into the air by her coat, hanging on to her shopping trolley.
At the end of the clip, which lasts about 30 seconds, shop owner Amir Akram can be seen rushing to Anne’s aid, having not realized she was there when he activated the shutter.
The grandmother and mother of three, who worked part-time as a cleaner at the shop, became an overnight sensation after the security footage was shared online.
She reflected at the time: “I was embarrassed; who wouldn’t be? But looking back, I can see the humor in it.
“I’ve enjoyed the fame; people ask me for selfies next to the shutters.”
She added: “People say it could happen to anyone, but no, it could only happen to me. Thankfully, I have a good sense of humor.
“I was just standing there when my coat got caught and up I went.
“I held on to my shopping trolley even though it was empty — I had to cling to something.
“I was hanging there like a bat, hoping I wouldn’t fall flat on my face.”
Mr. Akram recounted: “I was opening the shop and heard screaming, so I opened the door and saw legs against the window.
“The motor is powerful, so her hand could have been caught. It could have been much worse.”
Anne then resumed her shift as if nothing had happened.
Hours later, the video had garnered over two million views after the shop released it.
She said: “My grandchildren called to say, ‘Nan, you’re famous.’ I’ll never hear the end of it.
“I’ll never lean against those shutters again.”
But the grandmother added: “I’m telling people that it’s the shop where the prices don’t go up, but the staff do.”
The clip was watched over 50 million times across the shop’s channels and website alone, and it also went viral on TikTok.
When told she would be a millionaire if she received a penny for every view, Anne replied: “That’s a lot of money, but I’m just happy knowing I brought smiles to so many people.”
Street artist Tee2Sugars created a mural for Anne on the infamous shutters, stating it was “too good to pass up.”
She declined requests from TV shows, including an in-person interview with .
Anne poses next to graffiti inspired by her infamous momentCredit: WNS
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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