By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-01-08 11:51:59 | Updated at 2025-01-09 06:11:03
18 hours ago
A mother who died in a disabled toilet of a Blackpool restaurant was found three days later, her daughter has revealed.
The body of Sabrina Marlynn Lyttle, 47, was discovered at the Gurkha Buffet Restaurant, Hotel and Bar on Saturday, November 30.
Her daughter Jade Casey, 27, says her mother entered the restaurant on November 28 and was not found until staff finally opened the disabled toilet three days later.
"I'm heartbroken because we know she was left in the cold, on her own," Casey said.
Gurkha Buffet Restaurant, Hotel and Bar
GOOGLE STREET VIEW
The tragic discovery was made after multiple customers had complained about being unable to access the locked toilet facility.
Casey expressed anger that her mother wasn't found sooner, saying staff should have conducted regular toilet checks.
"The police have told us that customers were complaining that they couldn't get into the toilet, but they assumed something had happened with the lock," she said.
Restaurant staff eventually opened the disabled toilet on Saturday morning, making the grim discovery.
"We don't know the cause of death yet but there's part of us that thought she might have been struggling and needed help and then could have been saved," Casey said.
She described the distress of knowing her mother's body remained undiscovered while dining continued nearby.
"It's heartbreaking because I know she was dead but it's the fact she was there while people were eating and drinking," she added.
CCTV footage showed Lyttle entering the restaurant on Thursday, November 28, her daughter also claimed.
Casey said they believe her mother may have picked the lock to access the disabled toilet without requesting a key.
"We aren't sure of the circumstances of why she went in, it could have been to get warm because she had been released from prison the day before," she explained.
Police confirmed there were no drugs found at the scene.
"We really aren't sure but there weren't any drugs at the scene," Casey added.
The family remains uncertain about why Lyttle entered the restaurant that day.
Paying tribute to her mother, Casey described her as a "really nice person" who was "funny and kind".
She revealed her mother had struggled with addiction and homelessness for 25 years.
"She suffered with addiction and she was in and out of homelessness for the last 25 years but she was a really nice person," Casey, from Fleetwood, said.
Lancashire Police confirmed officers were called to the Waterloo Road premises shortly after 1pm on November 30.
"Officers attended and sadly the body of a woman in her 40s was found dead inside the address," a police spokesman said.
Gurkha Buffet Restaurant, Hotel and Bar
GOOGLE STREET VIEW
The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for HM Coroner.
A spokesman for Gurkha Buffet Restaurant said: "On Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 8.34pm, a non-customer member of the public entered the premises and asked to use the toilets.
"As the restaurant had already closed for the evening, directions to the pub toilets, which are in a separate area of the building, were given. Staff in the pub provided further directions to the general pub toilets and did not issue access to the disabled toilet.
"Access to the separate and locked disabled toilet is gained via staff as the facility cannot be opened with a RADAR key. The male and female toilets are deep-cleaned every morning and checked throughout the day, with the disabled toilet checked after every authorised use and cleaned as required, due to infrequent use.
"Access to the disabled toilet was not requested until Friday evening around 10pm. The staff with the assistance of other helpful pub customers were unable to unlock the door and as access had not been granted for the past 24 hours, it was reported as a maintenance issue to management.
"The following day on Saturday before opening, management was unable to gain access using all secure keys and removing the locking mechanism before alerting the police. We are aware of public posts that are full of information that is not correct, and we believe the speculations have not contributed positively to anyone affected, including the grieving family, the dedicated Gurkha staff and the community of Blackpool. We are aware of an ongoing inquest and will not be making any further public comments."
