Pensioner lies dead in flat for five years

Published on Friday 3 July 2009 10:00

THE body of an elderly woman has been found in her city flat after lying undiscovered for up to five years.

Police made the grim discovery after a neighbour reported water dripping through the ceiling from her flat above to the council.

Officers sent to the property had to force their way past a pile of mail and newspapers three feet deep to discover the badly decomposed remains. Among the mail there appeared to be letters from utility companies, and the kitchen sink was full of water.

Tests are being carried out to identify the body, which is believed to be that of the flat's owner Isabella Purves, who would have been 90 this year.

Neighbours in Rodney Street, Bellevue, said they had seen her practically every day until she suddenly "disappeared off the face of the earth" more than five years ago. They today described their "shock" and "horror" at Tuesday's discovery.

Her next-door neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he had not seen anybody enter or leave the flat since he moved in earlier this year.

He said: "I knew that an old woman lived there but I never saw her. I thought the flat was up for rent.

"The police visited on Tuesday morning after the man living below reported that water was dripping through his ceiling.

"At 11am an ambulance arrived to take a body away. A police officer told me the woman had been dead since at least 2005."

He added: "When they opened the door there was a smell and it hung around all day. Before then I didn't smell anything."

Richard Dyson, 40, who lives on the second floor of the three-storey building, said that he had not seen a single person come from or go into the flat since he moved in more than three years ago.

A couple who run a flower business next door to the property said they used to see Ms Purves nearly every day, but she "disappeared off the face of the earth" in 2004.

Sandra Brownlee and Giovanni Cilia, who own Fioritalia florists, said Ms Purves used to pass their shop pulling a trolley and would always say "hello".

Miss Brownlee said: "We noticed she had stopped coming by the shop and wondered why.

"We thought she must have gone to live with relatives or gone into a home. I was worried for a while and wondered if I should go and check on her. I wish I had now."

She added that Ms Purves seemed like a "pleasant and independent woman".

"It is shocking and very, very sad that nobody noticed this lady was missing. Surely there should be some checks in place to make sure elderly people are OK?"

Isabella Purves, who was born in 1919, is believed to have owned the flat in which she lived since at least 2001. It is thought her bills may have continued to have been paid by direct debit after her death.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. Officers are believed to be trying to trace relatives.

Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland said: "Although, unfortunately, cases of this nature crop up from time to time, this is by far the longest we have heard of an individual laying undiscovered. The shocking length of time only adds to the tragedy of this situation.

"In light of situations such as this, we would call for the providers of health and social care services to implement a system of automatic checks for non-responsive individuals.

"We would also encourage 'good neighbour' behaviour and ask people to acquaint themselves with their older neighbours."

The city council said it had no reason to be involved in the property.

A police spokesman added: "Police were called to an address in Rodney Street in Edinburgh on 30 June, after concerns were raised over an elderly resident.

"On entering the premises, officers discovered the body of a 90-year-old woman.

"There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, and a report has been sent to the procurator fiscal."

GRISLY FINDS

A SPATE of grisly finds in 1994 prompted Edinburgh Council to launch an emergency programme of contacting council tenants who lived alone.

Ian Pattison, 62, was found by a joiner sent to break into the property. His body was thought to have been there seven months.

Later that week, Brian Blair, 62, was found at his Murrayburn Place home after lying undiscovered for about four weeks, and the next month Angus Cooper, 73, was found in his flat in Duart Crescent. His body was believed to have been there for seven weeks.

In April 2006, Bruce Hendrie, 70, and his sister Robina Marshall, 79, were found dead at their Beechwood Terrace home, having lain undiscovered for 15 days.