What to Do When Someone Dies Suddenly: Winter Death Guide

If they died at home

If the death was unexpected and no doctor has seen them in the last 14 days, call 999. Tell them the person has died and is not breathing. A paramedic will come to confirm the death. This is not an emergency response with sirens—they understand this is a death, not a medical emergency.

If the person was under a doctor’s care for a terminal or serious illness, call their GP or the out-of-hours service (111). A doctor will visit to confirm the death and issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

Important: Do not move the person or clean up. Leave everything as it is until the doctor or paramedic has been. This is important for medical and legal reasons, particularly if the coroner becomes involved.

You do not need to call a funeral director immediately. Wait until the doctor has confirmed the death and told you what happens next. This could be several hours. That is completely normal.

If they died in hospital or a care home

The hospital or care home staff will handle the immediate medical procedures. They will confirm the death, inform the coroner if necessary, and keep the person in their care until you are ready to arrange collection by a funeral director.

You do not need to rush to the hospital or make any immediate decisions. The staff will explain what happens next and when you need to collect the person’s belongings. You have several days to arrange a funeral director.

If you want to see the person to say goodbye, ask the staff. This is usually possible and they will arrange a quiet room for you.

If the death was unexpected: police and coroner involvement

If someone dies suddenly without an obvious cause, the police will attend. This is routine, not suspicious. Police attend thousands of sudden deaths every year in the UK as part of the legal process. They are there to gather information for the coroner, not to investigate a crime.

The coroner must be informed of any death where:

• The cause is unknown or uncertain
• The person was not seen by a doctor in the last 14 days
• The death was sudden and unexpected
• The death may have been caused by an accident or injury
• The death occurred during or soon after surgery or anaesthetic

In winter, this includes deaths that may be related to hypothermia, falls on ice, or complications from cold weather.

The coroner will decide whether a post-mortem examination is needed. If so, this usually happens within a few days. The coroner’s office will contact you to explain the process and timelines. You can still arrange a funeral—the body will be released once the coroner has completed their investigation.

Immediate (0-2 hours)

• Call 999 or the GP: Get medical confirmation of death
• Contact one or two close family members: You don’t need to tell everyone immediately. Focus on the people who need to know right now.
• Make sure any dependents are safe: Children, elderly relatives, or pets who were in the person’s care

Urgent (2-8 hours)

• Contact a funeral director (if the doctor says you can): They will collect the person and take them into their care. This usually costs £200-400 for collection. You don’t need to arrange the full funeral yet.
• Secure the property (if they died at home): Lock doors and windows. Remove any valuables if the property will be empty. Keep heating on (see winter section below).
• Find essential documents: Look for their will, funeral wishes, insurance policies, and medical information. You don’t need to read everything now—just gather them in one place.

End of day priorities

• Tell immediate family and very close friends: Keep it simple. You don’t need to explain everything or make decisions about the funeral yet.
• Check if they had any immediate care responsibilities: Were they due to collect children from school? Did they have caring responsibilities? Were they expecting essential deliveries?
• Take care of yourself: Eat something, drink water, and try to rest. Shock is real and physical. You may feel numb, shaky, or exhausted. This is normal.

Cold weather deaths and coroner involvement

If someone dies at home during very cold weather, the coroner is more likely to be involved to rule out hypothermia as a contributing factor. This is particularly true if:

• The person was elderly and lived alone
• The heating was not working or was turned off
• The house was very cold when they were found
• There were signs of financial difficulty (inability to heat the home)

Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature below 35°C. It can happen even in moderately cold conditions (10-15°C indoors) if someone is elderly, unwell, or not moving around much.

The coroner’s involvement is not a judgement on anyone. They need to establish the medical cause of death, which may include cold as a contributing factor alongside other health conditions.

Funeral delays in winter

Crematoriums and burial grounds are significantly busier in winter due to higher death rates. What might normally take 2 weeks to arrange in summer can take 3-4 weeks in January and February.

This is especially true in the weeks following Christmas and New Year, when services are closed for public holidays but deaths continue to occur. The backlog takes several weeks to clear.

What this means for you:

• Contact funeral directors early to discuss availability, even if you’re not ready to make final decisions
• Be flexible with dates—your preferred day or time may not be available for 3-4 weeks
• Consider weekday funerals rather than Saturdays, which are heavily booked
• If the coroner is involved, factor in additional time before the body is released

The funeral director will keep the person in their care throughout this time at no extra cost. There is no rush to make decisions just because there is a wait for a date.

Accessing the property in winter

If the person lived alone, their property needs attention during winter even if you’re not ready to clear it out:

• Keep the heating on: Set it to at least 15°C to prevent burst pipes and damp. A burst pipe can cause thousands of pounds of damage.
• Check the boiler: Make sure it’s working and has adequate fuel (gas/oil). If it breaks down, get it repaired quickly.
• Clear snow and ice from paths: If possible, keep access clear for yourself and any professionals who need to visit (funeral directors, valuers, estate agents).
• Check for leaks: Winter rain and freezing weather can expose roof or pipe problems. Visit weekly if possible.
• Inform the home insurance company: Tell them the property is unoccupied. Most policies require you to visit regularly (often weekly) and keep heating on during winter. Failure to do this can invalidate your insurance.

If you cannot visit regularly, consider asking a neighbour to check, or hire a property management service. This typically costs £50-100 per month and can prevent expensive problems.

Why the coroner is involved

In England and Wales, a doctor can only issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) if they:

• Saw the person within 14 days before death, and
• Can state a clear cause of death based on their knowledge of the person’s medical history

If these conditions are not met, the death is reported to the coroner. This is not because anyone suspects wrongdoing. It is simply because the law requires a clear medical cause of death for every person who dies in the UK.

Common reasons for coroner involvement in sudden deaths include:

• Heart attacks in people not known to have heart disease
• Strokes or brain haemorrhages
• Undiagnosed cancers or infections
• Falls, particularly in elderly people
• Complications from cold weather (hypothermia)
• Deaths during or after surgery

What happens during the coroner process

The coroner will appoint a pathologist to carry out a post-mortem examination (also called an autopsy). This is a medical examination to determine the cause of death.

You cannot stop or delay a post-mortem if the coroner has ordered one—it is a legal requirement. However, you can ask questions and the coroner’s office should explain what will happen.

The post-mortem usually happens within 2-3 days. Results can take:

• A few days if the cause is straightforward (e.g. heart attack, stroke)
• 2-3 weeks if laboratory tests are needed (e.g. toxicology, tissue samples)
• Several months in complex cases, though the body is usually released much sooner

Once the post-mortem is complete, the coroner will usually release the body for the funeral, even if full test results are still pending. You do not have to wait for the final coroner report to hold the funeral.

Inquests

In some cases, the coroner will open an inquest—a public hearing to investigate the death. This happens if:

• The cause of death is still unclear after the post-mortem
• The death was violent or unnatural
• The death occurred in prison or police custody
• The death may be linked to the person’s employment

Most sudden natural deaths do not require an inquest. If an inquest is needed, it may be several months before it takes place. You can still hold the funeral while waiting for the inquest.

The coroner’s office will keep you informed throughout the process. You have the right to attend the inquest and ask questions.

Registering the death after coroner involvement

You cannot register the death until the coroner has finished their investigation and issued the final documentation. This means:

• You cannot get a death certificate until the coroner has completed their work
• You cannot apply for probate or access some bank accounts until registration
• The 5-day deadline to register the death does not apply—you register once the coroner is finished

The coroner will contact the Register Office directly. You will then receive a letter telling you to attend to formally register the death.

If you need proof of death urgently (for example, to access funds for the funeral), ask the coroner’s office or funeral director for an interim certificate. Most organisations will accept this while waiting for the full death certificate.

What you might be feeling

Sudden bereavement triggers an intense shock response. You may experience:

• Numbness and disbelief: It doesn’t feel real. You keep expecting them to walk through the door.
• Physical symptoms: Shaking, nausea, exhaustion, inability to eat, difficulty sleeping.
• Overwhelming emotions: Intense waves of grief, anger, guilt, or fear.
• Difficulty concentrating: Forgetting things, inability to make decisions, feeling confused.
• Searching behaviour: Looking for them, listening for their voice, feeling their presence.

All of these are normal responses to sudden loss. Your body and mind are trying to process something incomprehensible. Be patient with yourself.

UK support services

You do not have to cope with this alone. These organisations provide free, confidential support:

• Cruse Bereavement Support: Call 0808 808 1677 or visit cruse.org.uk. Free bereavement support and counselling.
• Sudden Death Support Association: Visit suddendeathsupport.org for support specifically for families affected by sudden death.
• Samaritans: Call 116 123 (24/7, free from any phone). Someone to talk to any time, day or night.
• NHS Talking Therapies: Visit NHS.uk to find free NHS counselling in your area. You can refer yourself without seeing a GP first.
• Child Bereavement UK: Call 0800 02 888 40 or visit childbereavementuk.org if children are involved.

It’s okay to not be okay

There is no right way to grieve. There is no timeline. Some days will be worse than others. Some moments will feel unbearable.

You do not have to “hold it together” for anyone else. You do not have to make decisions before you’re ready. You do not have to answer questions or see people if you can’t face it.

Let people help you. Accept offers of food, childcare, or someone to sit with you. Ask for help with the practical tasks. You cannot do everything alone right now, and you shouldn’t have to.

If you are struggling to function, or having thoughts of harming yourself, please call 999 or go to A&E. This level of crisis needs immediate help, and help is available.

What must be done this week

• Arrange for the person to be collected by a funeral director (if not already done)
• Secure their property if they lived alone (heating on, doors locked)
• Tell immediate family and very close friends
• Find their will if they had one (check with solicitors, in their home, or with family)
• Start thinking about funeral arrangements, but you don’t need to finalise anything yet

That is it. Everything else can wait.

What can wait until next week or later

• Registering the death (you have 5 days in England, or longer if the coroner is involved)
• Finalising funeral details (most funerals are 2-4 weeks after death)
• Cancelling bank accounts, subscriptions, and direct debits
• Informing government departments (DWP, HMRC, DVLA)
• Sorting through belongings or clearing their home (take months if you need to)
• Applying for probate (can wait 3-6 months)
• Dealing with their estate and finances

Who to call for help

• Funeral director: They will guide you through the immediate practical steps and can answer questions about what happens next.
• Tell Us Once service: Once you register the death, you can use Tell Us Once to inform multiple government departments at once (HMRC, DWP, DVLA, passport office).
• Probate helpline: Call 0300 123 1072 for advice on wills and probate.
• Citizens Advice: Free, independent advice on legal and financial matters. Call 0800 144 8848 or visit citizensadvice.org.uk.
• Bereavement support: Cruse (0808 808 1677) for emotional support and practical guidance.