An 82 year old North Carolina woman named Joan Rivet survived nine days trapped in her bathtub after falling while getting ready for bed in her home in Clyde. She kept herself alive by using her foot to turn on the faucet and splash water onto her face so she could drink it. The incident began on the evening of June 1 2026 when Rivet tripped and fell backward into the tub injuring her back severely enough that she could not pull herself out. The shower curtain and rod came crashing down on top of her leaving her immobilized in a remote mountain home in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains about 150 miles west of Charlotte.
Rivet lived alone with no children and had lost her husband Clarence Dez Rivet in September 2023 after 35 years of marriage. Her phone remained out of reach on the other side of the bathroom door alongside her 14 year old cat Phoebe which meowed persistently but could not help. No immediate rescue came because of the isolated location where neighbors were too far to hear her calls and she had no daily work obligations or frequent visitors that would raise quick alarms. She drifted in and out of consciousness losing track of time as days cycled from light to dark while praying for relief and trying small movements for comfort amid significant pain. Her brother Bill Lesko in Georgia who usually spoke with her weekly grew worried after several missed calls. He contacted neighbors who confirmed her car sat in the driveway with no signs of activity then requested a welfare check from the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies arrived on June 10 2026 exactly nine days after the fall and found Rivet semi conscious in the tub. They transported her to the hospital where doctors treated her for severe dehydration malnutrition and bed sores from prolonged immobility. She has no memory of the rescue itself. Rivet was later moved to Skyland Terrace Rehabilitation Center in nearby Waynesville where she has been regaining strength through physical therapy. Nearly a month later she reported feeling warm dry and content after receiving proper food water and a shower describing renewed faith and courage. She plans to move in with family in Georgia once recovered.
Rivet a longtime member of New Covenant Church who ministered to women in the Haywood County jail for over a decade credited her faith with helping her avoid despair during the ordeal. She focused on gratitude and determination telling interviewers she kept thinking about ways to get out while inching around the tub. The delay in discovery stemmed from her independent lifestyle and the remote setting rather than any neglect though her brother acknowledged that several routine check ins had slipped through the cracks. Her cat Phoebe also survived the nine days without food or water and is now being cared for by friends and neighbors. This case illustrates the risks seniors face when living alone and the critical role of family vigilance and community wellness checks in preventing worse outcomes. For senior safety resources see guidelines from organizations focused on fall prevention and isolation awareness.
