A GRANDMA who became a viral TikTok sensation after CCTV footage captured her being unexpectedly hoisted into the air by store shutters has sadly died, aged 73.
Anne Hughes – who was left dangling 10 feet up as she shouted for help during the comical moment two years ago – passed away shortly before Christmas following a battle with cancer.
A family friend told the MailOnline: “Anne was lovely and, luckily for her and everyone else, she had a good sense of humour.
“She quite enjoyed her moment of notoriety and she definitely saw the funny side.
“It’s sad that she’s gone but she has left us with a memory that will always bring a smile to people’s faces.”
Anne was standing outside the Best One shop in the village of Tonteg, near Pontypridd, South Wales, in March 2024 when her coat got tangled in the electric roller shutter.
She was hoisted in the air by her coat and stayed there dangling holding onto her shopping trolley.
At the end of the clip, which lasts around 30 seconds, shop owner Amir Akram can be seen running to Anne’s aid, having not realised she was there when he activated the shutter.
The grandmother and mum-of-three, who worked as a part-time cleaner at the shop, became an overnight sensation after the security footage was shared online.
She said at the time: “I was embarrassed, who wouldn’t be? But looking back I can see the funny side.
“And I’ve quite enjoyed the fame, people ask me for selfies next to the shutters.”
She went on to say: “People say it could happen to anyone, no, it could only happen to me. It’s lucky I’ve got a good sense of humour.
“I was just stood there when my coat got caught and up I went.
“I hung on to my shopping trolley even though it was empty — I had to cling on to something.
“I was hanging there like a bat. I was just hoping I didn’t fall flat on my face.”
Mr Akram said: “I was opening up the shop and I heard screaming so I opened the door and saw legs against the window.
“The motor’s powerful so her hand could have gotten stuck. It could have been much worse.”
Anne then carried on and started her shift as if nothing had happened.
Hours later the video had more than two million views after the shop released it.
She said: “My grandchildren rang 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 viewed over 50 million times across the BBC‘s channels and website alone, as well as going viral on social media.
After being told she would be a millionaire if she was just paid a penny for every view, Anne responded: “That’s a lot of money but I’m happy just knowing I brought a smile to the faces of so many people.”
Street artist Tee2Sugars made a mural for Anne on the infamous shutters and said it was “too good to pass up”.
She turned down requests from TV shows, including an in-person chat with Kate Garraway.
