Undertaker Fatally Crushed by Mortuary Equipment in Norfolk Funeral Parlour
An undertaker may have reached under a scissor lift before being crushed to death in a funeral parlour, a coroner's inquest has been told. Sally Blundell, 58, was discovered trapped inside the frame of the equipment at the East of England Co-op Funeral Services branch in Swaffham, Norfolk, on December 1, 2023.
Equipment Failure and Investigation Details
The hydraulic scissor lift mortuary trolley, used to transport bodies from refrigeration units, was brought into Norwich courtroom for examination. An engineer testified that a spring in the device—designed to close a valve and prevent the table from lowering—had become 'plastically deformed'.
In her expert report, Dr Eleanor Jay stated that Mrs Blundell might have released the handle to retrieve something beneath the table, contrary to safety warnings and training. This action could have allowed the table to descend at an unpredictable speed, trapping her underneath.
Dr Jay explained that the metal spring had 'relaxed over time', likely due to being overstretched by operators manipulating the handle beyond its intended range. This deformation meant the spring 'didn't always return to its closed position every time', permitting uncontrolled lowering.
Discovery and Immediate Aftermath
Mrs Blundell was found by colleague Stephen Kemp after concerns were raised by a woman who arrived for a pre-arranged appointment to visit a deceased relative and found no staff present. The colleague had travelled from the Dereham branch to investigate.
Norfolk area coroner Yvonne Blake informed jurors that Mrs Blundell had been 'kneeling so her legs were underneath her', with her upper body inside the equipment frame. Her glasses were discovered on the floor, though not necessarily under the trolley.
The coroner noted that three experts concurred Mrs Blundell must have inserted herself into the frame, but the reason remains unclear. 'All the explanations seem fairly weird. It's not the sort of thing you would normally crawl under. You would move the trolley,' Ms Blake remarked.
Safety Demonstration and Ongoing Inquest
Health and Safety Executive specialist inspector Jonathan Wright demonstrated the device's operation, showing how a hand pump circulates hydraulic fluid to elevate the table on the scissor mechanism. The exact height of the trolley at the time of the incident remains unknown.
Mrs Blundell's medical cause of death was recorded as 'contusion and compression of the chest by an external object'. Her daughter, Lucy Blundell, described her mother as 'respected by her colleagues' and having a 'wide network of friends'.
The inquest, conducted with a jury, continues to examine the circumstances surrounding this tragic workplace accident.
