Funeral Director Crushed to Death by Scissor Lift in Norfolk Parlour Tragedy
A funeral director was tragically crushed to death by a scissor lift at a funeral parlour in Norfolk, an inquest has heard. Sally Blundell, 58, died on December 1 last year at the East of England Co-op Funeral Services branch in Swaffham.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Ms Blundell had been due to hold a family viewing that morning when she became trapped within the mechanism of a hydraulic pump lift. Police constable Luke Heffer described finding her positioned across a bar with the upper portion of her body within the framework of the scissor lift, which was used to lift caskets in and out of a refrigeration unit.
Stephen Kemp, an employee from the Dereham branch, contacted emergency services after discovering the scene. The inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard that Ms Blundell's medical cause of death was recorded as "contusion and compression of the chest by an external object."
Concerns Raised by Visitors
Dawn Salisbury, who had arranged to visit a deceased relative at the funeral home, grew worried when no personnel were present for her 11am appointment. In a statement read to the Norwich inquest, she explained that after about 10 minutes she decided to ring the landline number for that branch.
When she was unable to hear a phone ringing within the branch, she attempted to call the celebrant she had been liaising with, and a message was relayed to another branch. This sequence of events highlighted the sudden and unexpected nature of the tragedy.
Company Response and Investigation
After Ms Blundell's death, a Co-op spokesman said the company was "deeply saddened" by what they described as a "tragic accident." The spokesman emphasized that "first and foremost in our mind are the family and friends of our colleague" and offered "deepest condolences" while requesting privacy for those affected.
The full inquest into her death opened at Norfolk Coroner's Court, with area coroner Yvonne Blake presiding. The investigation continues to examine the circumstances surrounding this workplace tragedy that has shocked the local community and raised questions about safety protocols in funeral home environments.
