Update on two untimely deaths in UK: Coroner clears Manu’s death: Prathibha will require postmortem

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON June 1: Two untimely deaths over the weekend have resulted in huge distress to two bereaving families in Kerala.

Monday being Bank Holiday weekend government offices were shut, therefore, the Keralite community in UK could only help process the documents only on Tuesday.

Manu Cyriac Mathew (42), who was working for a private firm in Bangalore, while on a business visit to the UK, passed away at Darent Valley Hospital in Kent on Friday 26th May 2023. Pratibha Keshavan (38), who arrived in the UK two and a half years back and was working as a nurse with Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge was found dead at her residence on Sunday 28th May 2023.

However, the only relief is that the next of kin and the Keralite community in the UK have come out to do their best in supporting the two families and also ensuring that no stone have been left unturned for things to move fast.

Coroners cleared Manu’s death yesterday (Wednesday 31st May) and they have notified the next of kin and also sent an email to the Registrar’s Office. The next of kin for Manu was able to book in for the death to be registered with the next available apoointment being Monday 5th June 2023. Death certificate will be issued only after the registration has taken place with the Registrar Office. The next of kin in UK will ensure that he goes to the Registrar Office on the day to pick up the death certificate for other formalities to begin. He has also started liaising with the funeral directors. Therefore, all in hands with Manu’s next of kin in the UK to ensure the smooth repatriation process.

However, in Prathibha’s case the coroner decided to carry out a postmortem. As Prathibha’s death was at home and also she was found dead a postmortem was expected. Coroners investigate all deaths where the cause is unknown, where there is reason to think the death may not be due to natural causes, or which need an inquiry for some other reason.

Coroners have informed the next of kin for Prathibha that postmortem is required. However, this couldnt be done this week at the same hospital where Prathibha is at present due to non availability of appointments and therefore the body will be taken to another NHS Trust for the postmortem to be done tomorrow (Friday 2nd June 2023).

After the post-mortem the coroner will release the body if no further examinations are needed.If the body is released with no inquest, the coroner will send a notofication to the registrar stating the cause of death. This means Prathibha’s next of kin and relatives will have to wait until next week to receive a date to register the death. This will initiate the next steps for the repatriation. We will keep updating the community on this matter.