In an unfortunate turn of events, Abigail Owusu, a dedicated business owner, has faced a devastating blow to her salon, Abi’s Hair & Beauty Spa, located in Croydon. The disaster struck early in the morning on Thursday, February 8, when Owusu arrived at her shop only to discover severe flooding caused by a leak from a suspected cannabis factory in the flat above her business.
Owusu, who has poured her heart and soul into her salon for the past decade, described the salon as her “baby” and was left in shock upon witnessing the damage.
Expecting a minor electrical issue when she found her shutters wouldn’t open and the illuminated sign outside was off, she was unprepared for the scene that awaited her inside.
The shop was inundated with water, damaging nearly every inch of the interior and destroying tens of thousands of pounds worth of equipment.
The mother of three had invested almost £100,000 into her salon, making this disaster not only a significant financial loss but also a deeply emotional one. “It’s my existence, this is my baby, I lived for it,” Owusu lamented, expressing her despair over the situation. She now faces the challenge of rebuilding her business from the ground up, amidst concerns about her livelihood and the responsibilities she carries.
The London Fire Brigade responded to the flooding at the suspected cannabis factory on Brighton Road, Purley, managing to contain the situation by early afternoon. However, the aftermath has left Owusu’s business in ruins, with significant repairs needed before it can reopen its doors to the community it has served for years.
Adding to Owusu’s frustrations, her insurance company has informed her that they cannot assess the damage until Tuesday, delaying any potential recovery efforts. “What kind of nonsense is this? The whole place is flooded, are we going to wait until Tuesday for anything to get done?” she questioned, highlighting the urgency of her situation.
The police have since recovered 11 huge bags of cannabis from the factory, pointing to a larger issue of illegal operations in residential areas and their potential to harm unsuspecting neighbours. As the investigation continues, Owusu and her loyal customers are left to deal with the aftermath of this unforeseen disaster.
