Our grief following the accidental death of our child

UK Helpline: 0 345 123 23 0 4 | tcf.org.uk The first days “I will never forget those terrible first moments when I found out that my child had died.” Unless we were present at the accident, in many situations it is the police who are the bearers of the terrible news. They usually arrive unannounced at the door. If our child was living in another part of the country or the world, or if they had a partner and/or family of their own, the news may come to us through a phone call. Getting through the first days Surviving the initial days of profound shock and grief is our first task. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we may lack the strength for what will follow. Warm drinks can help with shock, and perhaps we can eat snacks if we do not feel able to face a full meal. Friends or relatives may be able to help with day-to-day tasks like shopping or walking pets. The aftermath of a fatal incident can be complex, involving many different professionals and organisations. This can be very stressful. It can help if a close family member or friend can be with us when we have to deal with officials. If our child has not died immediately Our child might have still been alive at the point of us finding out the basics of what had happened. If it was possible, we might have rushed to the hospital. There may have been long hours at their bedside, holding onto hope for their recovery. Tragically, these hopes were eventually dashed.