Sudden or Unexpected Death: What to Do Next
If someone dies suddenly or unexpectedly, call 999 if emergency services are not already present. The police may attend and the death may be referred to the coroner. This does not necessarily mean there are suspicious circumstances. The coroner's role is to establish how and why the person died.
A sudden or unexpected death can leave you with many questions about what happens next. Alongside the shock of losing someone, you may suddenly find yourself dealing with emergency services, the police and the coroner.
At Bridgwater Funerals, we support families across Bridgwater and the surrounding Somerset communities following sudden and unexpected deaths. You don't need to understand the whole process before contacting us. We'll explain what we can, guide you through the next steps and be here when funeral arrangements can begin.
What Should You Do After a Sudden or Unexpected Death?
If someone dies unexpectedly at home or somewhere outside a hospital and emergency services are not already present, call 999.
The emergency services will advise you what to do. Depending on the circumstances, ambulance staff and the police may attend.
When a death is sudden, unexplained or potentially unnatural, it may need to be reported to the coroner. In Somerset, common reasons for referral include an unknown or unclear cause of death, a potentially violent or unnatural death, a death in custody or a death resulting from an incident at work.
Try not to be alarmed simply because the police or coroner becomes involved. A referral is part of the legal process for certain deaths and does not automatically mean that anything suspicious has happened.
Step-by-Step: What Happens After an Unexpected Death?
Step 1: Emergency Services Attend
If the death happens unexpectedly at home or in another community setting, emergency services will assess the situation and take the appropriate immediate action.
The police may also attend to gather information about what happened. Their involvement can be a normal part of dealing with a sudden or unexplained death.
Step 2: The Death May Be Referred to the Coroner
The coroner is an independent judicial office holder responsible for investigating certain deaths.
If the cause of death isn't known or there is another reason why the death needs investigating, the coroner will decide what needs to happen next. This may include obtaining further information or arranging a post-mortem examination.
You do not normally need to arrange this yourself. The professionals involved will make the referral where required.
Step 3: Contact Bridgwater Funerals
You can contact Bridgwater Funeral Services even while the coroner's enquiries are ongoing.
You don't need to wait until your loved one has been released before speaking to us. Many families contact us simply because they want someone to explain what happens next.
We'll listen, answer your questions and begin discussing arrangements whenever you feel ready.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help
From your first questions through to the funeral itself, our team is here to provide practical guidance and personal support when you need it.
What Happens to Your Loved One?
If the coroner needs to investigate the death, your loved one may be taken to an appropriate mortuary while enquiries are carried out.
The coroner may arrange a post-mortem examination to establish the medical cause of death. Once the necessary examinations have been completed and no further examination is required, the coroner can release your loved one for the funeral.
If you've chosen Bridgwater Funerals, we'll arrange to bring your loved one into our care once the appropriate permission has been given.
We'll keep the process as straightforward as possible and help you understand what is happening at each stage.
Can You Arrange a Funeral While the Coroner Is Investigating?
You can contact a funeral director and begin discussing the funeral while the coroner's investigation is taking place.
However, it is sensible not to confirm the funeral date until the coroner has indicated when your loved one can be released.
At Bridgwater Funeral Services, we'll work around the coroner's process and help you begin making decisions at your own pace. Once your loved one has been released into our care and the necessary authority has been issued, the funeral arrangements can progress.
GOV.UK confirms that the coroner releases the body for burial or cremation once the required examinations have been completed.
How Do You Register a Sudden or Unexpected Death?
The registration process can be different when a death has been referred to the coroner.
If the coroner decides an investigation is not required, the Medical Examiner can confirm when the death can be registered. If the coroner establishes the cause of death without an inquest, the necessary information is sent to the registrar.
If an inquest is required, different arrangements apply and an interim death certificate may be available while you wait for the inquest to conclude.
For more information check out the following guide on how to register a death.
Sudden Death Support in Bridgwater and Somerset
If someone close to you has died unexpectedly in Bridgwater, North Petherton, Cannington, Puriton, Pawlett, Huntspill, Woolavington or another surrounding Somerset community, you can contact Bridgwater Funerals for guidance.
We understand that after a sudden death you may not be ready to think about the funeral itself. Your first conversation with us can simply be about understanding what happens next.
When the time comes, we can:
- Liaise with the relevant authorities where appropriate
- Arrange to bring your loved one into our care when they are released
- Explain what happens before funeral arrangements can proceed
- Help you understand the choices available
- Arrange the funeral at a pace that feels right for your family
You don't need to have everything decided before calling us.
