04 January 2024 , 14:53
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Tributes have been paid to an undertaker who was crushed to death in a "tragic accident" at a funeral parlour.
Sally Blundell, 58, died at the East of England Co-op Funeral Services branch in Swaffham, Norfolk, on December 1 this year. The incident is understood to have involved a hoist used for lifting objects and resulted in the premises being closed for several days.
At her inquest opening on Thursday (Jan 4), pathologist Laszlo Igali confirmed her cause of death as "contusion and compression of the chest by an external object". Following the hearing, her colleagues at East of England Co-op led tributes to Mrs Blundell, whose occupation was given to the court as "funeral administrator". During her career at the organisation, which spanned almost a decade, she also led a branch in Attleborough.
The parlour was closed for several days after the incident (Google)A spokesman for East of England Co-op said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of our colleague and friend Sally Blundell. "Sally worked for our Co-op for over eight years and her care and experience will be truly missed by those in and around Swaffham, as well as her colleagues. First and foremost in our mind are Sally's family and friends - we offer them our deepest condolences."
Health and safety officers at Breckland Council have launched a probe into the circumstances of Sally's death - described by Co-op as a "tragic accident". During the short hearing at County Hall, details provided to the court by her daughter, Lucy Blundell, were read out senior coroner for Norfolk Jacqueline Lake.
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These confirmed Mrs Blundell was born in Norwich and lived in The Street, Great Cressingham, near Watton. Mrs Lake adjourned until a further hearing, which is due to be held on Friday, April 5.
At the time, A Norfolk Police spokesperson said: "Police can confirm a woman has died following an industrial incident in Swaffham. Emergency services including the air ambulance were called to a business in Market Place shortly after midday today (Friday 1 December 2023) following reports there had been an incident involving a woman in her 50s.
"Sadly the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers are working with the local authority to establish the circumstances that lead to the woman’s death. The woman’s next of kin has been informed."