When Your Child Has Died Abroad

One of a series of leaflets published by The Compassionate Friends 4 Finding Out A telephone call from abroad, perhaps from your child’s partner, one of their friends or a police officer, can bring the news that changes your life forever. Alternatively, local police may bring the terrible news to your door. You are shocked and devastated. Your child has died. The cause may not be apparent immediately. There could have been a sudden health emergency or an unforeseen complication of a long- standing condition. There may have been an accident, a crime or a natural disaster resulting in your child’s death. Tragically some first learn about the death of their child through the news networks or social media. Newspapers, radio and TV channels are often interested when a UK citizen has died abroad, particularly in dramatic circumstances. Disasters around the world, such plane crashes, terrorist actions, or natural disasters, in addition to more individual tragedies such as abductions and murders, make headline news. You may have only a vague idea that your child might have been on that flight or in that area. You will live in hope for your child’s wellbeing until told otherwise. The legal processes are never easy for a bereaved parent, but the fact that this tragedy occurred abroad will complicate things immensely. The assistance of family and friends will be extremely valuable. In addition, because of any potential publicity, there may be a need to prepare a brief statement to limit press and social media intrusion. A member of the family or trusted friend may be able to help you write this. The tragic death of your child Once you have become aware of the death of your child, you will want to know what happened, when exactly, and who was with them at the time. You may question what led to them being in that place at that moment. Questions like these can swirl around in your mind for months and even years to come, and you may never find answers to them all. You may feel utterly powerless. Decisions regarding your child may be made by people hundreds or thousands of miles away. At the start,