Bosses of restaurant where woman 'lay dead in toilet for days' speak out for first time

A Blackpool restaurant where a mum was found dead inside a disabled toilet two days after going in has spoken out. Sabrina Lyttle, 47, was found dead inside a cubicle at the Gurkha Buffet Restaurant, Hotel and Bar on November 30 last year.

She had entered the premises to use the toilet on November 28. Lancashire Police does not believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

An inquest is due to take place later this year, the Mirror reports. In a statement, the Gurkha Buffet Restaurant, Hotel and Bar has issued a statement - commenting on 'speculations' which surround the case.

A spokesperson said: "On Thursday 28th November 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."

An inquest into Sabrina's death is set to be held at Blackpool Town Hall at about 10am on April 3. Sabrina's mum Christine, 68, previously said customers had reported not being able to access one of the cubicles in the days before she was found.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary previously said: "We were called at shortly after 1pm on Saturday, November 30 to a report of a sudden death at an address on Waterloo Road in Blackpool. Officers attended and sadly the body of a woman in her 40s was found dead inside the address. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this time. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."