AIBU to expect the shop to close ?

A doctor must have been called to pronounce that the poor man was dead.

I have seen an ambulance arrive at our local supermarket on more than a few occasions and hoped that whoever required it was treated with speed and recovered.

I've seen one several times at our local supermarket, but they just go in to buy sandwiches...(I know because I've watched them!)

An ambulance was outside the shop and as it happened I looked at them and they were chatting so I thought that they had just popped in for sandwiches. The cafe assistant said they tried to save him even the air ambulance attended so absolutely no complaints there.

I agree with the comment that the shop should have closed to new customers and the shoppers inside could then be guided away from the poor man as they could then go out of the shop the way shoppers normally go in. This wasn't a huge supermarket in a city,it's in a small market town and I'm saddened that people carried on buying their every day food around a dead body. He was next to the self service and they kept it open !

I feel better for talking about it here so thank you. But it's not about me,it's about that poor man and his family. And a money grabbing supermarket.

I'm surprised they didn't cordon off a larger area around the body. He must have died well before the ambulance arrived. If the crew had thought there was any chance of saving him they would have taken him to hospital. It would have been more thoughtful to restrict access to the aisle.

We don't know the ins and outs of the case or why it took an hour but the main thing is he wasnt lying having a painful heart attack in some secluded spot with no one around to find him or help him I d far rather fall to the ground in a crowd than in a lonely area or alone in a house and not found for days or even weeks There often is no dignity in death .....or being born that's just how it is
Say a prayer for the man and don't bear the burden of how he ended life, look after yourself, he's sounds as if he was outside any pain from the first moment he fell to the ground if only it was this good for us all .... each person who witnessed it will have a different reaction and each must find their own way forward don't dwell on it izzy

How easy would it be to close a supermarket unexpectedly and at an unusual time? Not very easy, I should think, depending on how big a shop it was and how busy. I don't think it's right to assume that whatever managers were on duty acted out of callousness. They may have felt that not making a fuss (such as closing the shop, which would have to be explained) kept the incident more discreet than not. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Do ambulances remove a corpse ?

As far as I am aware if a person has died,an ambulance does not take them anywhere. An undertaker does that.

When my Dad died in an hospice at midnight, we had about three quarters of an hour to get our own undertaker, or the hospice would contact one of their choice to take his body away, & although they were very sympathetic about it they were also very firm .

Yes, the store should have been closed, but if this was not possible, a higher screen should have been put around the gentleman.
A few years ago, a friend of mine was in town with her dad when he collapsed. She dialled 999, the ambulance came, they certified him dead, then left, saying that they weren`t allowed to convey a dead person, they did, however, help her to get him into her car, and she drove him to the hospital herself. She was extremely distressed over it.

Yes, must have been upsetting for everyone. Totally agree with Jalima, the isle and the surrounding are should have been cordoned off. But I guess most don't really know what to do in that situation and if there's no one capable of dealing with things then they won't be dealt with totally appropriately.

With a sudden, unexpected death the body is not removed by ambulance. The coroner is informed and the body removed under the care of this officer until cause of death is established.

Personally I think the highest dignity we can afford this gentleman or anyone ever involved in an accident or death is first see if we can help and if not move away not to stand and stare for entertainment, shock, or curiosity

I think they should have closed the shop, or at least closed the aisle where he was.

Sadly the shop staff probably don't have the authority to close the shop. It must have been very upsetting for them

I don't think YABU to be upset, but maybe it's a bit unreasonable to expect the supermarket to close while the details of his removal were sorted out. I agree that they could have closed off an aisle, rather than just screened the body. He would have to have been pronounced dead by a doctor before anything else could happen, also his family would need to authorise any removal of the body I think, and maybe the police would have to attend as it was an unexpected death. There will also have to be an autopsy and an inquest, so there may be legal requirements about the removal of the body.

Have you thought of contacting the supermarket to express your concern? They might be able to explain further and set your mind at rest.

It would have been prudent to close off a larger area, for health and safety reasons.

So sorry Izzy, I would have been upset too. I really think out of respect the shop should have closed, the very least the whole aisle, To think we are in a society where this is considered ok is sad. Is it such a big inconvenience to close for a couple of hours or wait for your shopping? , I do t think so.

Why do you not contact the store manager and ask for an explanation, telling him it has upset you greatly?

So sorry, lizzy, horrible for you. I hope you have a happier day today.

This happened in Bath a few years ago outside the department store. An elderly lady (judging by her "old lady"shoes. She was completely alone on the pavement with a rough brown blanket covering her but I still remember her little feet sticking out at the bottom. Everyone just walked round her but I was so upset we went back to the car park and drove home. I know she was dead and past caring whether she was alone or not but she was someone's Mum and probably Gran as well and it still bothers me 20 years on.

Sudden deaths in public places usually involve the police/ coroners office as well as medical services. No doubt anyone who happened to be at the same place as the poor victim would have more knowledge later as it would possibly be on the local news.So until then everything else would be speculation. Plenty of that no doubt.

Tillywhiz, are you for real?. I am sure the store manager had more to contend with than someone throwing a 'wobbly'and it had 'upset their day' because they 'happened' to be in the 'vicinity' when some one passed away.

They could have closed that aisle and put staff at each end to explain to shoppers..........no respect now only for money

Good to feel sympathy for the poor man. But what were the staff to do? Clear the store, with all the aggravation and minor conflicts that would involve? Then collect in the canteen and... well, do what? Wait for a 'councillor' to arrive, who could spout a few platitudes? Some would decide they were too 'upset' to continue and want the rest of the day off.

No. Death is natural. This man seemed fortunate enough to escape a lingering, painful end - he fell over while shopping. His loved ones will mourn, the rest of us tip our hats and carry on.

sarahellenwhitney At no point did I throw a 'wobbly' and the reason I wrote here was to see if anyone else agreed that the shop should have been closed for 2 hours. This was someone's loved one and I felt very sad that he was left for so long in the shop. It was not the shops fault it took so long. I also think it would have helped the staff to have had a break.