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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Adam Wareing & Graeme Murray

'Time traveller' caught on Google Street View in exactly the same spot nine years apart

A woman has been photographed by Google Street View in exactly the same spot where she was captured nine years ago.

Leanne Cartwright's husband Richard sent her a Google Maps picture of her standing at a crossing in Carlisle clutching a bag.

The mum-of-one thought it was a teasing email showing how the tech giant had caught her on camera in April 2009.

But the 41-year-old was 'flabbergasted' when he told her she'd appeared in the exact same spot, down to the same paving slab, in a near-identical shot nine years later.

The first image shows trouser-clad Leanne standing at a traffic crossing on the corner of Victoria Place with a carrier bag in her left arm and another bag over her shoulder.

Bizarrely a second image, shot in August 2018, shows her standing in exactly the same position holding two bags in the same style - with the only difference being her outfit.

Leanne was caught first by the cameras in Carlisle, Cumbria in 2009 (Kennedy News/Google Maps)

The civil servant posted the 'bonkers' images to Facebook earlier this month [September 12th] where she says she's been compared to a 'time traveller' due to the 'one-in-a-billion' coincidence.

Leanne, from Carlisle, Cumbria, said: "It's like I'm frozen in time.

"I'm standing on exactly the same paving slab and I've still got a bag on my shoulder. It's so funny but so bizarre.

"People probably think I'm a time traveller. I could

"I did see the car the first time, so when it got published we went on and had a look. Everyone thought it was quite funny and I didn't mind at all.

"Richard found the second one while he was at work because he was looking for the first one. He was going to send it to me and then he realised I was back on it.

Leanne Cartwright was pictured in exactly the same spot nine years later in 2008 (Kennedy News/Google Maps)

"When I saw it, I thought it was really bizarre. I hadn't even seen the car at the time, so I was flabbergasted.

"We told everyone at work and they found it funny. I thought I'd put it on Facebook because I don't know anyone else it's happened to.

"I've had loads of likes. Someone mentioned about me being a time traveller. It's been funny reading the reactions.

"I'll be looking out for the car in future and if I see it, I'll have to jump on the same spot. You never know, I might be there next time. It'll make me smile when I walk past."

Leanne says the first image was taken during her one-mile walk to work at around 8am whereas the second was on a lunchtime break - and discovered by hubby Richard in January 2019.

Unfortunately, she didn't make an appearance on the most recent Google Street View shot in September 2020 as she was working remotely during the pandemic.

But she has returned to working in the office two days a week and says the uncanny coincidence will make her smile 'every time she walks over the crossing'.

The self-professed 'creature of habit' said she wouldn't wear any of the clothes she wore in the first image now, and jokes the comparison shows how her personal fashion has changed since 2009.

Leanne, who lives with 41-year-old Richard and son Zach Cartwright, five, has attracted more than 700 likes and 20 baffled replies to her post.

One commented: "that is actually crazy and cool at the same time."

Another agreed and said: "Sorry, that's absolutely bonkers!"

A third questioned: "Is this not one of those one-in-a-billion chances? Amazing!"

One observant user said: "Bag in the same hand and also on the shoulder."

Leanne replied: "I'm a total creature of habit."

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