AIBU to expect the shop to close ?

I stand corrected ?!

The funeral directors work on behalf of the coroner to move a person from the place of death to a hospital for post mortem. Some areas this is on a rota system and calls will be made to FDs to find one who is available. Some areas this is on a contract with one FD. They can be covering a huge area. It may be that the funeral directors were already out and dealing with another death, on a funeral or quite some distance away. XX

When I worked in A+E ( long time ago I admit ) we often had ambulances arrive with people who had died - very strange ...

I was once at a bingo hall when a woman collapsed. The paramedics arrived and used a defibrillator. The bingo games continued with people saying 'shhhh' when the defibrillator gave the command 'stand away'. It was ridiculous. The poor woman died there and they just carried on playing bingo. I couldn't believe it. Surely they should have cleared the hall out of respect. I daresay it was nice that she died doing something she enjoyed but her family would be appalled to learn the circumstances I am sure.

Freudian slip - *how BUSY they are

Having read some other posts - yes, the undertakers will take the body to the hospital mortuary in a case a PM is required, but the man's own GP might be able to issue a certificate if the man had a potentially fatal condition (heart disease or emphysema for example), had seen him within the past 2 weeks and the circumstance of death are consistent with the condition.
An hour for the undertakers is not unusual; I have waited far longer than that on duty, and when my mother died at home a couple of months ago it was nearly 3 hours, Depends on how bury they are.

I know how you feel-although this is a bit different. Some years ago I was coming out of a large open air car park in our town & a man collapsed in front of me clutching his chest. I was the office first aider & had done my St John's training so I got him into recovery position by which time a small crowd had gathered.
This was before everyone had a mobile so I ran to nearest shop (I was the only one there able to run TBH) I was just about to dash in & get them to ring an ambulance when something stopped me & I decided to go to the shop next door. I have no idea why & even as I did it I felt it was odd.
Then I went back to make sure he was still in right position & wait for ambulance.
Unfortunately the poor man died there on the pavement although the ambulance men were there quickly & did their best. He was on his way to meet his wife at Waitrose across the road.
I found out later that his daughter worked in the shop I nearly went into. I have no idea why I didn't go into the first & nearest shop.
I used to think about it every time I used that car park & was very glad when they built a shopping mall on the site as I'm sure his family felt the same way. You just do not expect to see death at such close quarters in an every day situation & it really does shake you up. I sympathise.

Having been a police officer for many years I can tell you that a paramedic can pronounce life extinct. It saves a lot of time not having to get a doctor.
Ambulances will not normally take a body away as it ties up the crew from saving lives. The police, who will have attended as this is a 'sudden death', will have called the 'first on the list' undertaker to deal with the deceased's body.
I don't think closing a supermarket is really practical. Where do all the customers go and for how long? However, I think the staff could either have moved the body, after police attendance, to a private area like the staff room, or close off that entire aisle to shoppers with staff getting any goods that the customers required from it.
I am sure the man's body would have been covered with a blanket as well as there being a screen.
I can understand some people being upset (I have a friend who loathes seeing hearses pass) but I can also understand the store's practical approach. Sorry to sound callous, but if you felt upset, why did you not leave your coffee and depart the store?

No, I don't think you were wrong to feel upset, I do think the staff should have cleared the store for an hour or so out of respect, they would have done it quickly enough for a bomb scare.

If that was my father that had died, I would be outraged that he was left lying on the floor, in the midst of shoppers ignoring him and picking up their baked beans, until the funeral director appointed by the coroner could get there. If it was your child or grandchild, how would you have felt?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.