1 May 2015

Elderly woman survives fall into creek

4:45 pm on 1 May 2015

An 87-year-old Blenheim woman has survived a fall into a creek only because her head stayed above the water.

Police said the woman, who has dementia and has also had a stroke, strayed from her rest home yesterday afternoon.

Marlborough Area Commander Inspector Simon Feltham said police were called when staff realised she was missing.

Shortly afterwards, officers found her lying in a stream on the grounds of the rest home, with only her head above the water.

She was taken to hospital with hypothermia, but is now in a stable condition.

Mr Feltham said if officers had not responded and found her so quickly, she may not have survived.