16/10/2024
I went to assess a property with a landlord the other day, as they weren’t able to contact the tenant to arrange access. The tenant, who’d stopped paying their rent some time ago, was also in the process of being evicted, and insisted on another famale to accompany any trades visiting the property.
I met the landlady at the property, who knocked several times on the front door, but no one answered! All the curtains were drawn, so, the landlady unlocked the front door, and called out to tenant, but again no answer, so she opened the door to the living room, and entered. I peered round and saw liquid on the living room floor.
The landlady backed out of the front door, with her hand over her mouth, closing the door as she did. “She’s dead, call an ambulance!”, she said, obviously a bit shaken by what she’d just witnessed?
The ambulance arrived in minutes, and the paramedics took over the situation.
I’ve never been in this situation before, so I guess I must’ve led quite a sheltered life, cos I was slightly shaken as well?
The point of this post is to pay tribute to professionalism of the paramedics, who must have to handle this kind of situation, and worse from day to day, and to the people who struggle with poverty, mental or physical health problems, including addiction, and who feel completely isolated from society, regardless of whether they have roofs over their heads, or live on the streets!
I don’t know the cause of death of the tenant, who was in her 40’s, I just hope she passed away peacefully? I don’t know if the tenants passing could’ve been avoided, but want to urge anyone who does feel helpless for whatever reason, to speak to someone about it, and not feel like the only way out is to take your own life?
Apologies for the morose nature of this post!
NHS England Samaritans
