Michaela Sharp was found dead in the toilet of a McDonald’s in Edinburgh after her body lay undiscovered for six hours, her mum Aurora Light has said she will be ‘haunted forever’
A Scottish mum has revealed she will be “haunted forever” after her daughter’s body was left undiscovered in the toilet of a McDonald’s in Edinburgh for six hours.
Michaela Sharp was tragically found dead at the South St Andrew Street branch of the fast food chain in the early hours of June 14. Her mother, Aurora Light, said police officers informed her that CCTV footage showed the 32-year-old entering the bathroom at about 9pm the previous evening, but the door was not opened until nearly 3am the following morning.
Aurora, 52, from Bo’ness, near Falkirk, described it as “unthinkable” that her daughter was left to die alone. Emergency services were called to the scene, but sadly Michaela could not be saved, reports Edinburgh Live.
Aurora stated that Michaela’s cause of death was unclear, however, she was known to have suffered from health issues including seizures.
Aurora shared that she had been staying with her mother when police arrived to deliver the news. She said her mum was left “sobbing on the doorstep” when officers knocked on the door.
Aurora recalled: “All I could hear was her sobbing and saying, ‘it can’t be true. Is she really gone?’ I couldn’t understand what had happened.
“The police then told us Michaela had been found in a toilet in McDonald’s at around 3am.
“When paramedics arrived, she was already dead and could have been for hours. They said the CCTV showed her going in at 9pm so she could have been laying there alone since then.
“She has had seizures caused by health issues before where we had to call an ambulance but all we know is it was sudden.”
Aurora believes Michaela could have been saved if staff had checked the toilets.
She said: “If someone had just found her in the first half an hour and called an ambulance she might still be here today.
“If only someone had checked, someone could have saved my little girl. It’s the what if’s that will haunt me forever.
“Just the thought of your child being left cold like that in the toilets for six hours is unthinkable.
“Knowing the restaurant was open with people around breaks my heart. By the time the ambulance got there, there was nothing they could do.”
The South St Andrew Street outlet is amongst the most frequented in Edinburgh and proves especially popular with party-goers making their way home after evenings out.
A representative for the fast food chain expressed sympathies and confirmed it had cooperated with Police Scotland during their inquiry.
They continued: “We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends following this tragic event in June.
“Our restaurant team worked closely with Police Scotland to assist at the time of their investigation and will continue to support if required.
“We have offered support to any of our restaurant team who have been affected.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland stated: “Around 2.55am on Saturday, June 14, 2025, we were called to a report of a woman having taken unwell in the South St Andrew Street area of Edinburgh.
“Emergency services attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. There are no suspicious circumstances.”
This tragic incident took place just weeks before Sean Stephen was found deceased in a toilet at the Edinburgh City Chambers on July 7.
The 38-year-old’s body was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition after he was reported missing on July 1.
Police Scotland referred the incident at the time to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).
An investigation by the city council is also set to take place following this devastating incident.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “The circumstances of the incident have been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) and we are unable to comment further.”
City of Edinburgh Council has also been approached for comment.
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