Cambridge academic escapes toilet using eyeliner and cotton

The Queens' College room was the former residency of 16th Century philosopher Erasmus

A university academic who was trapped in the bathroom of a medieval tower for seven hours escaped using an eyeliner and a cotton bud.

University of Cambridge academic Dr Krisztina Ilko resides in the former Queens' College rooms of the 16th Century philosopher, Erasmus.

The historic tower has thick walls, heavy wooden doors and no window in the bathroom.

Dr Ilko, 33, said she feared she would be trapped for days.

She believed the latch on the heavy wooden bathroom door had been broken by a plumber working on her shower.

Dr Ilko handpicked the lock with an eyeliner and a cotton earbud

The door had locked behind her on Thursday and the room was not due to be cleaned until the following Monday.

Dr Ilko said: "I was trying to remember how long a person can survive on just water and hoping that I wouldn't die there.

"If people came looking for me would they check the bathroom, or would I have to wait for Monday.

"I tried to bang the shower head on the door, break it with brute force, and shout for help but nothing worked and no-one could hear me."

She said she still has bruising on her shoulder from trying to open the door.

Dr IIko is a junior research fellow and director of studies at Queens' College

After multiple attempts, she called on her childhood love for the fictional problem-solver MacGyver to get herself out and handpicked the lock with an eyeliner and a cotton earbud.

The eyeliner was used to push down the latch and she made a hook out of the earbud.

After seven hours, she was able to unlock the door.

She said: "Sometimes when I hear sounds around here I joke that it it is the ghost of Erasmus, then I thought I was going to join him and become a Cambridge legend.

"When I eventually got out and the door opened it was exhilarating because I didn't think it would work.

"I expected to be there for five days or longer, but I made it out."

The lock has since been taken off the bathroom door.