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South Shields woman's 'text from the grave' shock | South Shields woman's 'text from the grave' shock |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A woman was horrified to receive a text message from her grandmother's phone number - three years after her death. | A woman was horrified to receive a text message from her grandmother's phone number - three years after her death. |
When Lesley Emerson died in 2011 some of her favourite things were buried with her, including her mobile phone. | When Lesley Emerson died in 2011 some of her favourite things were buried with her, including her mobile phone. |
Sheri Emerson, of South Shields, said she found comfort in texting her but was stunned to get a reply, saying: "I'm watching over you." | Sheri Emerson, of South Shields, said she found comfort in texting her but was stunned to get a reply, saying: "I'm watching over you." |
It emerged her grandmother's number had been given to another user who replied, thinking friends were playing pranks. | It emerged her grandmother's number had been given to another user who replied, thinking friends were playing pranks. |
The network in question, O2, said it had spoken to the family and apologised for any distress caused. | The network in question, O2, said it had spoken to the family and apologised for any distress caused. |
Ms Emerson said that following her grandmother's death, rather than visit her grave at Harton Cemetery in South Shields, she would text small, personal messages as a "way of being close to her". | Ms Emerson said that following her grandmother's death, rather than visit her grave at Harton Cemetery in South Shields, she would text small, personal messages as a "way of being close to her". |
"I know she's not alive, but it's still going to her," she said. | "I know she's not alive, but it's still going to her," she said. |
'Horrible things' | 'Horrible things' |
However, she was "upset and distressed" to receive a reply saying: "I'm watching over you and it's all going to get better. Just push through." | |
Ms Emerson said: "Loads of horrible things were running through my head. | Ms Emerson said: "Loads of horrible things were running through my head. |
"How did somebody get her telephone? Had they been getting all the texts?" | "How did somebody get her telephone? Had they been getting all the texts?" |
When a family member rang the number the man who answered explained he had recently acquired the number and thought the text messages from Ms Emerson had been from prankster friends. | When a family member rang the number the man who answered explained he had recently acquired the number and thought the text messages from Ms Emerson had been from prankster friends. |
Ms Emerson said: "I took it out on him, but it wasn't his fault at all. | Ms Emerson said: "I took it out on him, but it wasn't his fault at all. |
"It makes me feel sick, there's not a word to describe it." | "It makes me feel sick, there's not a word to describe it." |
O2 said numbers disconnected and not reconnected within a short period of time were placed in a general pool for reassignment. | O2 said numbers disconnected and not reconnected within a short period of time were placed in a general pool for reassignment. |
A spokesman said O2 had been in touch with the family and apologised "for any distress this is causing". | A spokesman said O2 had been in touch with the family and apologised "for any distress this is causing". |
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