Undertaker Fatally Crushed by Faulty Coffin Lifter in Norfolk Funeral Parlour
A grandmother and funeral administrator was tragically crushed to death by a faulty coffin lifter that descended unexpectedly onto her while she was working alone, an inquest has concluded. Sally Blundell, 58, was found trapped underneath a scissor lift used to move bodies from cold storage at a branch of the East of England Co-op Funeral Services in Swaffham, Norfolk, on December 1, 2023.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The incident occurred at some point between 9.46am, when Mrs Blundell was last seen on CCTV, and 12.06pm, when her body was discovered by a colleague from a neighbouring branch. She was found in the back room of the parlour, lying across a bar with the upper part of her body inside the frame of the hydraulic scissor lift mortuary trolley. Her glasses were found on the floor next to the machine, indicating the sudden nature of the accident.
Concerns were initially raised after a woman who had an appointment to see a deceased relative at the branch found no staff present. She contacted a celebrant, who then alerted a colleague from the Dereham branch. Stephen Kemp, who works at the Dereham branch, visited the Swaffham location and discovered Mrs Blundell dead, subsequently calling emergency services.
Inquest Findings and Expert Evidence
Jurors at the inquest in Norwich returned a conclusion of accidental death after hearing detailed evidence. Norfolk area coroner Yvonne Blake stated that expert evidence indicated a fault was found with the hydraulic scissor lift mortuary trolley after Mrs Blundell’s death. The coroner concluded that the trolley 'descended unexpectedly', leading to the fatal crushing.
An engineer testified that a spring in the hydraulic lift, which closes a valve to stop the table lowering, had become 'plastically deformed'. In an expert report, Dr Eleanor Jay suggested that Mrs Blundell may have let go of the handle on the device to reach something under the table, which could have contributed to the accident. However, the coroner noted it was not known why Mrs Blundell had 'inserted herself' into the frame of the device.
Health and Safety Concerns and Aftermath
The medical cause of death was recorded as 'contusion and compression of the chest by an external object'. Paul Bradbury, senior food and safety officer at Breckland Council, which investigated the incident, confirmed that Mrs Blundell was found 'trapped in the mechanism of the mortuary hydraulic pump lift'. The 200kg hydraulic scissor lift mortuary trolley, manufactured in 2008, was sent to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for further examination.
Coroner Yvonne Blake is considering writing to the equipment’s manufacturer, A R Twigg and Son, with her concerns in a Prevention of Future Deaths report. Barrister Dominic Kay, representing the East of England Co-op, informed the coroner that the chain no longer uses this type of trolley, highlighting steps taken to prevent similar incidents.
Family Statement and Lone Working Issues
Mrs Blundell's daughter, Lucy Blundell, said in a statement that she understood her mother had raised concerns about lone working, pointing to potential safety issues at the funeral parlour. The inquest also heard that there were no CCTV cameras in the areas of the funeral parlour where bodies are kept, which may have limited oversight and safety monitoring.
This tragic case underscores the importance of rigorous health and safety protocols in workplaces, particularly in environments involving heavy machinery. The community in Swaffham and beyond mourns the loss of a dedicated funeral administrator and beloved grandmother, as investigations continue to ensure such accidents are prevented in the future.
