FUNERAL OUTRAGE
Grieving widow fought for four years for compensation after husband’s coffin smashed when it was dropped into his grave
A GRIEVING widow says she is still haunted by the day her husband’s coffin was dropped into his grave – exposing his body to mourners.
Debbie Swales was forced to hold two funerals for her late husband Gavin, 55, following the harrowing incident that left the family shell-shocked while they were already grieving.
Despite the horrifying incident in November 2015, Debbie says funeral director Clark Pearson refused to accept the blame. After almost four years fighting for justice, the 52-year-old has decided to reveal what really happened at her husband’s funeral – a day which she says has resulted in a living hell ever since.
Distraught Debbie could not believe her eyes when Gavin’s coffin was dropped by pallbearers lowering him into his grave at Newcastle’s West Road Cemetery.
On impact, the coffin fell to pieces, leaving the popular dad on show to between 400 and 500 people.
Debbie 52, of Denton in Newcastle, said: “I just burst into tears. The lid smashed open and the kids jumped in [his grave]. When lifting the coffin out it just fell to bits.
“We paid extra for a solid oak coffin with strong gold handles. We found out afterwards that it was a replica MDF coffin, which just shattered when it was dropped.
“Imagine that happening to your loved one. It is not private – 400 to 500 people were able to see him.”
The pallbearers responsible then fled the scene, leaving the couple’s children to leap into the plot to recover Gavin’s body. The family were devastated and horrified at what they had experienced – which was far from the dignified sendoff they had envisaged for a man known as a ‘gentle giant.’
Heartbroken Debbie and her family rearranged Gavin’s funeral for the following day, using a different funeral director. But for the mother-of-eight the damage had already been done. Her memories of her husband had been tarnished and it is something she says she can never forgive Clark Pearson for.
She said: “When I saw Gavin he just didn’t look the same. He had a cut across his face as a result of the coffin breaking. It has haunted me ever since. I can’t get
It is not just the fact they dropped him. Of course it was an accident. But who would run away? Debbie
on with living my life because I’ve been grieving for so long.
“I’ve had no closure to this and it’s just been terrible for us all.
“It is not just the fact they dropped him. Of course it was an accident. But who would run away?
“You would front up and not leave the family to jump into the grave.
“We have been treated dreadfully ever since. I recall standing there – I cried and cried.”
The popular dad was told in 2013 that he had a tumour of 9.5cm in his right kidney. It was while he was undergoing pre-assessment tests that doctors discovered he was also battling leukaemia.
Brother Frankie stepped in to donate his bone marrow and Gavin’s health started to improve. But the dad’s progress was halted when he got pneumonia. Just months after undergoing a second transplant, Gavin died.
Debbie, who also has six grandchildren, said: “Gavin has left a massive gap in my life, my kids’ lives.
“My husband was known as the gentle giant all his life. He was always there to help people.
“If I had one wish in the world it would be to bring him back. He idolised me, his children and grandchildren. He was a great man who has been robbed of his life, and I have been robbed of my time with him.”
Since the funeral, Debbie and her children have received counselling, with the grieving mum saying she is stuck in the past and unable to move on.
“The last four years have been hell,” Debbie said. “I have had many sleepless nights. “Every time I see Gavin I just see the image of him in a broken coffin with people running around chaotically and family members being left to get him out.
“Without my kids and grandkids I don’t know what I would have done. Instead of grieving for my husband I have had to fight for four years for justice for my Gavin. “I haven’t been to another funeral since, not even my best friend’s.
“The kids can’t go to Gavin’s grave because they have flashbacks.”
In August, the family reluctantly accepted a settlement of £136,500 from the funeral directors. But a £77,000 legal bill and other fees meant the Swales family ended up with around £47,000. To this day Debbie claims to have never received an apology from Clark Pearson, which is still operating in Newcastle.
Debbie said: “It means after all we’ve been through, the children and I have ended up with just over £5,000 each. It’s an absolute insult.
“All I’ve wanted is justice for my husband. It has not been, and never will be, about the money. But my family has been through hell the past four years and Clark Pearson needed to realise what they have done to us.
“People say that time heals, but I don’t feel any different now from how I did on the day of his funeral. I feel empty and I just can’t be happy. I am always going to be carrying this sadness around for the rest of my life. I feel like half of me has gone. Gavin didn’t deserve any of this and I’m disgusted that it has taken so long.”
Newcastle City Council took no action against Clark Pearson over the incident. However, the authority confirmed it met with all funeral directors in the area to remind them of their roles and responsibilities.
A statement from Clark Pearson’s solicitor said: “Clark Pearson deeply regrets this unfortunate incident and the distress that was caused to the family.
“Settlement of the claims was agreed at mediation, so it would be inappropriate for Clark Pearson to comment any further.”