An emotional caller told radio listeners he feared he would ‘freeze to death’ in his own home if he didn’t receive help from somewhere.
The man, who was identified only as Philip, called up LBC’s Ben Kentish yesterday (11 December) to say he had been stuck inside his home in Tiverton, Devon, for nine days, 'freezing cold' while battling the ‘flu. You can listen to his heart-wrenching call here:
His voice cracked as he spoke, telling the radio presenter that he was completely on his own with no one to check in on him or bring him food.
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He said: “Trying to get help from the doctors, trying to get antibiotics was a nightmare.
“I’ve been on my own for nine days. I’m freezing cold. I’m distressed. I have nobody knocking on my front door, I have nobody checking in on me.
“I have reached out to my local food bank and my local council. Everything is a closed door.
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“I’m freezing, I’m going to freeze to death in my own home. This is just not me, I’m not a victim.”
Philip said he had called his local food bank to try and get some assistance, but was told he’d need to come down to the collection point in person - something he wasn’t able to do.
“I can’t go,” he said. “I can’t even open my eyes.”
Kentish vowed to help the caller and told him he would reach out to his local council to ensure he got some help, at which point Philip burst into tears and he once expressed his fears about dying alone at home.
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Lib Dem MP for Tiverton and Devon has since tweeted about Philip, confirming he has since been given assistance.
He tweeted: “It broke my heart listening to Philip tell @BenKentish about the difficulties he’s been facing. No one should be left so isolated and trapped in the cold, particularly at this time of year. I’ve been in contact with @LBC and will personally do all I can to help this evening.”
In a follow-up post today, he added: “Thank you to everyone whose been in touch with offers of support. I am advancing Philip's case with Mid Devon Council and local support groups to get him the help he needs. I will also try and raise the case in Westminster - the Govt needs to hear this plight and answer for it.”
Claire Reid