• Germany edition
Photo: DPA

Retiree makes emergency call for more toilet paper

Published: 14 Dec 09 07:00 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091214-23921.html

A Bochum woman in here nineties called emergency services this weekend regarding a delicate matter – she was out of toilet paper, police reported.

The woman first called Germany’s emergency number 110 on Saturday to ask for help finding the number of her building management, police reported in a statement on Sunday. She told the officer that she was unable to locate the number alone due to her failing eyesight.

The officer found the number, but was surprised to get a second emergency call several minutes later from the same elderly woman, who said she had been unable to reach her building manager and was in an “emergency situation” that could not wait until Monday.

“Only after further questioning did the distressed woman admit with shame the reason for her call,” the statement said. “The almost 100-year-old was out of toilet paper.”

An officer from the southwestern precinct of the North Rhine-Westphalia town was dispatched to provide a fresh roll of toilet paper and personally insure that the pensioner was in good health.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

#1
09:59 December 14, 2009 by Dashcroft
Ladies and gentlemen - the news.
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#2
11:26 December 14, 2009 by Schnuckel
Um.. I'm reflecting on childhood memories of the pitiful elderly woman from the old LIFECALL ads.

"I've fallin' & I can't get up!"
Report abuse »
#3
11:58 December 14, 2009 by Wabit
I guess the old Lady was on 'A Roll' hahahaha
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#4
06:17 December 15, 2009 by parografik
What does she think rugs are for?
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#5
19:19 December 15, 2009 by snorge
I wonder if she got a roll of Charmin????
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#6
20:41 December 15, 2009 by wxman
This situation needs to be addressed by the government! We need to wipe this problem away and flush it so it never occurs again!
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#7
04:20 December 16, 2009 by parografik
What's with the photograph?

Does she have exceptionally young and somewhat masculine hands, or did the police officer pull of the sheets to wipe her?
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#8
10:14 December 16, 2009 by parker7usa
this story is funny ... but it's not. All in allI have to say, God bless the Police for checking on her and taking care of her issue ... this is a bit more serious than calling 911 in America because your Chicken McNuggets at McDonalds are taking too long.
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#9
17:03 December 16, 2009 by lordwilliams629
Parker7usa I know what your saying, but it don't reflect on americans anymore than it does germans, what it says is that people with mental issues live in all parts of the world, rather it's due to drugs, azheimer's, or something a persons born with. Don't try and seperate things people with mental issues due by their country of origin. Im sure the police in this case decided to check it out due it being an ederly sounding voice, and thats know differnt than what american police would have done had they thought it was an elderly person on the street or public somewhere, and was thought to be confused and needing help.
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