Man trapped in freezing toilet for four days!!

Engaged ... for four days. Man trapped in bowling club loo survives on icy tap water

Last updated at 18:11pm on 10th December 2007 Comments

A retired teacher survived on tap water after getting trapped in the freezing toilet of his bowling club for four days.

David Leggat was trapped in the gents with no food or contact with the outside world after the door jammed behind him.

The 55-year-old, who spent 16 hours of each day in darkness, survived by sipping ice cold water from the taps and fought off the cold by dipping his feet in a basin of warm water.

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Stranded: David Leggat survived his ordeal by sipping ice cold tap water

He was eventually freed after cleaner Cathy Scollay heard his cries for help and raised the alarm.

She said today: "There was no reason for anyone to come looking for him."

Mr Leggat's ordeal began when he went to use the toilets at the Kittybrewster and Woodside Bowling Club in Aberdeen last Monday afternoon.

He became trapped as the outside handle of the toilet door had fallen off a few days earlier. When he went into the bathroom, the inside handle jammed.

The unmarried bowler, who is the club's wine convener, said he quickly realised he was in for a long wait as the club is rarely used in winter.

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Aberdeen's Kittybrewster and Woodside Bowling Club, where Mr Leggat spent his chilly ordeal

The retired English and history teacher said: "I had nothing with me to eat so I sipped cold tap water to keep me going.

"I did a survival course once and knew I had to keep my feet warm, so I kept running a basin of hot water and putting my feet in to send the heat through my body."

Ms Scollay, who keeps her cleaning equipment in the gents, discovered Mr Leggat on Thursday morning.

She said today: "I put on the light as normal, pushed the door and just heard a voice shouting 'you can't get in here, I have been locked in here for four days'. I just couldn't believe it."

Ms Scollay could not manage to free Mr Leggat, so they called club secretary Bob Ewing, who used a screwdriver to open the door.

"David looked awfully grey and shaky when he came out," Ms Scollay said. "But he managed to walk up the road to his house."

The cleaner said it was the first time she had come across such a situation during her six years in the job. "Nothing ever happens here, just bowling," she said.

"Nobody had been looking for David. A wife may have wondered where he was, but he is not married."

Mr Leggat told Aberdeen's Evening Express: "At least there was a toilet to use. The only thing I regret is not getting trapped behind the bar."