Barrie Police Car (from the FM 92 South Simcoe files)
A Barrie senior is recovering after police located her in a bathtub following a wellness check prompted by concerned family members.
Officers responded to the call in November after relatives reported they had not heard from the 90-year-old in several days and discovered she had missed a scheduled transit pickup. When officers arrived at the home, they found the front door open and began searching the residence.
“When we entered the residence, we initially feared the worst,” says Sgt. James Westcott. “We started a search of the home, and eventually we heard faint cries for help.”
They found the woman behind a jammed bathroom door, lying in an empty bathtub.
“She had fallen into the tub and was unable to move for four days, so our focus was on getting her out safely,” notes Sgt. Westcott.
Officers carefully lifted the woman from the tub, wrapped her to keep her warm and remained with her until paramedics arrived and transported her to a local hospital for assessment.
Barrie Police say wellness checks are a critical part of their work, with officers regularly responding to calls involving mental health concerns, personal crises and vulnerable residents in need of support. In most cases, officers assess the situation and work to ensure the person’s immediate safety, which can include connecting them with medical care, crisis intervention teams or community-based services.
Residents who are concerned about someone’s safety are encouraged to contact police, with emergencies directed to 911 and non-urgent concerns to the non-emergency line at 705-725-7025.
