About sudden death

Police officers attend all incidents of sudden or unexpected deaths that occur outside of a hospital or medical setting - they are the initial representatives for the Coroner’s Office. Typically, it is uniformed officers who attend first, followed by plain clothed officers (these are normally detectives). 

The police will determine if an investigation is needed, and if it isn't, they will contact the local coroner office and the deceased will be taken to the local mortuary. 

The police will likely ask further questions - this is to obtain enough details to make a formal report to the coroner about the circumstances of the death. 

Certain items of your loved ones belongings could be taken by the police - these will be returned back to you at a later date, typically by the coroner. 

A coroner is a special type of judge appointed by a local authority to investigate certain deaths. Coroners are usually lawyers, but sometimes they can be doctors. They are appointed by a local authority but remain independent judicial office holders. 

It is the coroner's job to investigate deaths that are reported to them.  They will make whatever inquiries are necessary to find out the cause of death and decide whether an investigation is needed; and if it is, 

• investigate to establish the identity of the person who has died; how, when, and where they died; and any information they need to register the death.
• use information discovered during the investigation to help prevent other deaths this includes ordering a post-mortem examination, obtaining witness statements and holding an inquest. 

A coroner officer is an individual who works for the coroner. They provide a link between the coroner and the bereaved family. It will be this officer who is your main point of contact throughout the investigation. They will:

• Explain the role of the coroner and answer your questions
• Provide a contact in the coroner’s office throughout the investigation, including their phone number and/or email address. 
• Let you know when and where hearings take place. 
• Give you documents and evidence that other interested persons have given the coroner (as far as possible). 
• During a long investigation, contact you at least every three months, or sooner if further information is available, to update you on the progress of your case, and explain reasons for any delays. 

If you are a close relative or the personal representative of the deceased, you'll be classed as an 'interested person'. An interested person has certain rights during the investigation and inquest - they're able to receive information and other documents and evidence, such as witness statements and reports obtained by the coroner, and will also be told of key dates, including inquests. 

It is important to remember that the coroner's office are there to help you and keep you updated. You should be given a direct contact within the coroner's office. You do not need to wait for them to contact you - if you have a question, you should absolutely reach out to them via telephone or email.

A post-mortem is a medical examination of the body in order to establish the cause of death. The coroner decides if a post-mortem is needed. The pathologist will then complete a report detailing what they did in the post-mortem and what they found, and send it to the coroner. As an interested person, you're entitled to receive a copy of this - however, you should consider this carefully and consider the emotive nature of the  content. 

If the post-mortem shows a natural cause of death, the coroner will not need to investigate any further and the body will be released to you. If the results show the death is unnatural or certain circumstances apply, the coroner may decide that an investigation is needed. Typically, the body would still be released to you at this point as the post-mortem has already been completed - your coroner office will inform you of this. 

It is a legal requirement to inform the government when someone has died - this is to be completed within five days of the passing. For a sudden death however, where the coroner is involved, then you are not able to register the death until the investigation has finished and the inquest, if there is one, has been concluded. 

This can be distressing and make the loved ones feel as if they're in limbo. Whilst the investigation is ongoing, you will be given an 'interim death certificate' from the coroner office. Even if the cause of death has been established through the post-mortem, the death certificate will state 'unknown' for the reason until the investigation has concluded. The interim death certificate will enable the deceased family to start the process of informing certain agencies and providers of the passing, so that contracts and services will be cancelled. Once the investigation has been concluded, you will be issued with a death certificate and will be able to register the death of your loved one.

You are able to liaise and meet with a funeral director of your choosing at any point throughout the investigation, even if your loved one's body has not been released yet. During this meeting, you would be able to discuss options and share both your wishes and the wishes of your loved one. You just wouldn't be able to commit to a date. 

The coroner office will inform you when your loved one's body can be released. Your chosen funeral director will transport your loved one to their chapel of rest, where you would normally then have the option of organising a viewing. It is at this point that you would be able to organise a date for the funeral. 

Funerals can be expensive and, all too often, people who die from sudden death to not have life insurance. At Sudden Sam, we do not want money to be a barrier or a burden to you at this tragic time.

An inquest is a public court hearing held by the coroner to decide who died and why, and where the death happened. The coroner will hear from witnesses and consider other evidence such as the post-mortem or expert reports. An inquest is a fact finding inquiry in order to find the details needed for the death to be registered - it is not a criminal trial. Not all deaths which are investigated by the coroner need to have an inquest. 

You will be informed by the coroner's office if your loved one will be having an inquest. 

It is worth bearing in mind that it is not uncommon for an inquest date to be adjourned - this could be for a number of reasons, such as investigations from other organisations linked to your loved one's death needing to be completed first. 

Inquests should take place within six months of the death or as soon as possible after. If the coroner has not completed their investigation within twelve months of the death, they must write a report to the chief coroner giving their reasons for the delay.

The coroner decides, based on the findings of the investigation, who is called as a witness - these could include people relevant to the death, such as health professionals or the police. Witnesses will first be questioned by the coroner, but 'interested persons' (such as the loved ones family or their legal representation) also have the right to ask questions. If you believe that you have evidence or that a particular witness should be called, you should inform the coroner's office as soon as possible. 

It is not for the coroner to decide or appear to decide any question of criminal or civil liability or to apportion guilt or attribute blame. The coroner will fact find to establish the cause of death.  When giving the cause of death, the coroner or jury may make one of the following conclusions: 

• accidental death or misadventure;
• alcohol/drug related; 
• industrial disease; 
• lawful/unlawful killing – the meaning of these terms is set out in law; 
• natural causes; 
• open, this is used when there is not enough evidence to decide any of the other conclusions; 
• road traffic collision; 
• stillbirth;
• suicide. 

It is worth noting that these conclusions can be joined, for example, a 'drug related accidental death'.  Alternatively, or sometimes in addition, the coroner may make a brief ‘narrative’ conclusion which sets out the facts surrounding the death in more detail and explains the reasons for the decision. A narrative conclusion is likely to be given when the case is more complicated as it can give a longer explanation of the reasons for the decision and what the important issues are. 

Sometimes a coroner’s investigation will show that something could be done to prevent other deaths. If the coroner considers this to be the case, the coroner would write a report bringing this to the attention of an organisation or person who may be able to take action. This is called a ‘report to prevent future deaths’ or a ‘Regulation 28 Report’.

The organisation or person must send the coroner a written response, within

56 days, to the report, saying what action it will take as a result. As in interested party, you would be able to see this form.