​9 Days Trapped: North Carolina Widow’s Miraculous Rescue

​An 82-year-old North Carolina woman has emerged from a harrowing nine-day ordeal after a fall left her trapped in her own bathtub, surviving through a combination of ingenuity, prayer, and sheer determination.

​Joan Rivet, a widow residing alone in the mountain community of Clyde, was preparing for bed on June 1 when a single backward step resulted in a life-altering accident. She tumbled into her bathtub, pulling the shower curtain and rod down with her. The impact caused significant back injuries, rendering her unable to climb out of the porcelain basin. With her telephone located in another room and no immediate way to signal for help, she found herself isolated, save for the company of her cat, Phoebe, who remained near the bathroom door throughout the event.

​As the days passed, Rivet drifted in and out of consciousness, struggling to maintain her strength. Recognizing the critical need for hydration, she discovered she could manipulate the bathtub’s faucet with her foot. By carefully turning the handle, she was able to splash water toward her face, providing just enough to sustain herself.

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​“I’d see it get dark and lighter, dark and lighter. I lost track, to be honest, of the days,” Rivet shared from a physical rehabilitation facility. She credits her survival to an unyielding faith, noting that she repeatedly prayed for strength to endure the pain.

​The rescue was prompted by her brother, Bill Lesko, who lives in Georgia. Growing concerned after his weekly calls to his sister went unanswered for several days, Lesko contacted neighbors. When they reported that her vehicle was still in the driveway but there was no activity at the home, he requested a welfare check from the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office.

​On June 10, deputies entered the residence and discovered a semi-conscious Rivet. She was immediately transported to a hospital, where she received treatment for severe dehydration, malnutrition, and pressure sores.

​Following her discharge from acute care, Rivet was moved to a rehabilitation center in Waynesville, where she is currently undergoing physical therapy to regain her strength. Reflecting on her recovery, she expressed a sense of contentment and a renewed perspective on life.

​The incident has resonated deeply within the local community, with neighbors now committing to more consistent check-ins on those living alone. For her part, Rivet plans to relocate to Georgia to be closer to family once she completes her recovery.