BEING held prisoner for four years in the Far East proved just the experience Colin Silver needed to survive being cut off in his Exeter flat - for two months.
Mr Silver, 86, is severely disabled with diabetes, kidney problems and neuropathy, nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system affecting his hands and feet.
Living on the fifth floor of 10 storey Rennes House in Vaughan Road, Whipton, Mr Silver relies on the lift and his mobile scooter to get out and about.
The block has two lifts - one serves the odd number floors, the other, the even numbers.
Just how dependent Mr Silver was on the lift became apparent eight weeks ago when the lift suddenly stopped working.
Mr Silver said: "As I understand it, a lady became trapped in the lift and the fire brigade were called in to get her out. They had to rip off the doors to do so and that was that.
"Because of my condition I am unable to get down the two flights of stairs to reach the even numbered lift and so I just couldn't get out.
"There are wardens here but they just look in to see if you are OK, they have their jobs to do and couldn't go running messages for me.
"Luckily I know how to look after myself. I was working for the Government in the Far East in the 1950s and was held prisoner out there for a number of years. I can't go into the details but it taught me to be self-sufficient.
"I keep my fridge well-stocked and was able to manage, but it was difficult with things like bread and essentials that won't keep.
"I was also lucky in that I am able to change the bag on my catheter myself - although there was an occasion where there was an emergency and a nurse had to come up and change the catheter tubing.
"I don't know how I managed for eight weeks being cut off. My nearest relatives are 250 miles away and I don't really know anyone in Exeter.
"I know the lift is meant to be working now but I am worried it will just go again. It is the original system and dates from the 1960s - that over 50 years ago now.It has had it's life."
The lift was made by the Express Lift Company, established in 1917 in Northampton It was acquired by Otis in 1997.
