Body unrefrigerated for weeks at funeral home
Pair fired for terrible lapse over care of 35-stone dead man
TWO funeral care workers have been sacked after the body of a man who weighed over 35-stone was stored in a wash room for four-weeks.
It is understood the dead man was kept within his coffin in the room rather than being refrigerated in the mortuary at the Co-operative’s funeralcare home in Great Brook Street, Nechells, because of his size.
Other allegations, which the Post is not publishing due to their sensitive nature, involve the man’s deterioration and the condition of his coffin.
Central England Co-operative launched an probe and took disciplinary action. Two staff were dismissed as “their conduct fell below what was expected” in relation to the tragic case.
The funeral firm said it “deeply regreted the distress this had caused and sincerely apologised for what has happened”.
The man was housed in the funeral home’s washing and dressing room, which is where his family visited him.
The deceased, who the Post is not naming, was laid to rest in the city earlier this year.
It is understood a cremation was unable to be accommodated due to the width of his coffin exceeding the size used at the crematorium.
His daughter told how the funeral firm must do better to accommodate larger people to prevent other families going through what they have endured.
“They do need to accommodate the larger people because we’re not the only family to go through it,” she said.
“There’s going to be plenty more families that are going to be put through the same situation we are, whether it’s at present or in the future.
“Someone else will come across this.
“It’s not fair for another family to go through these hiccups. They are going through enough stress as it is.
“We were a tight family so we managed to hold it together and support each other.”
A source revealed the “alarming” case meant procedures used in the deceased’s aftercare were “certainly not standard practice”.
“It was, sadly, a shambles for such a well-liked person,” a source added.
Another Birmingham funeral director said he was shocked after learning of the case. Derek Case, the company chairman of Mortons Funeral Directors, said: “It seems really undignified.
“I feel for the family as this never should have happened.”
A Central England Co-operative spokesperson told the Birmingham Post: “We take the care of deceased very seriously and after we were informed of a potential issue we immediately spoke with the family.
“On completion of an internal investigation, disciplinary action has been taken and we can confirm that two colleagues have been dismissed.
“We deeply regret the distress this has caused, and we have been working closely with the family to be open and transparent, to offer support and have sincerely apologised for what has happened.
“We are focused on care of the deceased and supporting families. We have strict processes in this regard and will be taking steps to ensure full compliance with them.”