Undertaker Crushed to Death by Scissor Lift in Funeral Parlour Tragedy
A grandmother and undertaker was found crushed to death by a scissor lift used to move bodies from a fridge in the funeral parlour where she worked, an inquest has heard. The tragic incident occurred at the East of England Co-op Funeral Services branch in Swaffham, Norfolk, on December 1, 2023.
Discovery of the Fatal Accident
Sally Blundell, 58, was discovered underneath the scissor lift equipment in the morgue area of the funeral home. She had been working alone at the time of the accident. Concerns were first raised by a grieving family who had an appointment at the parlour but found it empty and unattended.
Dawn Salisbury, who had arranged to see a deceased relative, became worried when no staff were present for her 11am appointment. After waiting approximately 10 minutes, she attempted to call the branch landline. When she could not hear a phone ringing inside the building, she contacted the celebrant she had been dealing with, which eventually led to a message being passed to another branch.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Stephen Kemp, a funeral manager at the Dereham branch of East of England Co-op Funeral Services, took action after receiving the alert. He asked security to remotely check CCTV cameras at the Swaffham branch. The footage showed two women waiting in the reception area for their appointment and Mrs. Blundell's car in the parking lot, but there was no sign of the undertaker herself.
Mr. Kemp promptly went to the Swaffham branch, where he made the grim discovery. He found Mrs. Blundell trapped under the hydraulic hoist, which had come down on her body and was crushing her chest area. It was immediately apparent to him that she was already deceased.
Police officer Luke Heffer described the scene, noting that he accessed a back room through the chapel of rest. In the room, there was a large fridge and the scissor lift equipment used for lifting caskets in and out of the refrigeration unit. Mrs. Blundell was found lying across a bar with the upper part of her body inside the frame of the lift.
Coroner's Findings and Family Statements
Norfolk area coroner Yvonne Blake recorded the medical cause of death as "contusion and compression of the chest by an external object." The inquest also revealed that Mrs. Blundell was last seen on CCTV at 9.46am on December 1, walking away after taking a call on her work mobile phone. Mr. Kemp arrived at the branch just after midday and found her body.
In a heartfelt statement, Mrs. Blundell's daughter, Lucy Blundell, shared that her mother had raised concerns about lone working prior to the incident. She described her mother, who lived in Great Cressingham, as respected by her colleagues and having a wide network of friends.
The inquest highlighted that there are no CCTV cameras in the sensitive areas of the funeral parlour where bodies are kept, which may have delayed the discovery of the accident. The proceedings, being heard with a jury, are ongoing as further details are examined.
This tragic workplace accident underscores the importance of safety protocols in environments with heavy equipment, particularly when employees are working alone. The community and her family mourn the loss of a dedicated professional whose life was cut short in such a devastating manner.
