Viral TikTok shop shutter woman ‘immortalised’ in mural

A woman who went viral when her jacket caught on a shop’s moving shutter has been “immortalised” in a mural painted on the very shutter responsible for hoisting her into the air.

Millions have viewed the CCTV footage of Anne Hughes, 72, getting lifted several feet off the ground and dangling upside down while clinging to her shopping trolley. Now anyone passing that same Best One convenience store in Tonteg, Rhondda Cynon Taf, after closing time can see the moment captured in a mural by the Welsh artist Tee2Sugars.

The artist told the PA Media news agency that he painted the mural after the shop owner got in touch with him.

“He said: ‘We would like to encapsulate or immortalise Anne on the shutter’,” Tee2Sugars said. “As soon as he said that he didn’t have to finish the rest of the sentence. I said: ‘Yeah, I’ll be on my way.’”

Hughes is a cleaner at the shop and was waiting for her boss to let her in when the incident happened earlier this year. She told BBC News she was proud of the mural, calling it beautiful and brilliant.

She said that at the time she thought she was “facing death”, but has since found humour in the aftermath. “I’ll never go against those shutters again. Never,” she said. “I’ve learned my lesson.”

Tee2Sugars called her a good sport. “It’s not something that’s going to change her life but it’s a funny moment that’s going to be remembered for ever,” the artist said.

Because the mural is on the shop’s shutter, anyone hoping to see the artwork will have to do so late at night or early in the morning.

“It’s a pity really, because if she was on the other shutter they could have had the shutter down but it’s on the doorway shutter so unfortunately the mural has opening hours from 9pm till 7am,” said the artist.