Pall bearer dies beside freshly-dug grave

A pallbearer keeled over and died by the freshly dug graveside of a teenager as his funeral service was taking place.

David Jones was adorning the new grave with flowers when he collapsed by the side of the dug-out hole.

A coffin carrying the body of 18-year-old Christopher Dumper had to be kept in St George’s Church, Brockworth, Gloucestershire, for an extra 20 minutes while paramedics battled to save Mr Jones by the site Mr Dumper was set to be buried in.

Grandfather and father-of-three Mr Jones, who was in his late 60s, was said to have felt ill shortly after driving the coffin to church in a limousine. He was thought to have suffered a heart attack.

Canon Keith Corless told mourners yesterday that there would be a delay in Mr Dumper’s burial while ambulance crews tried in vain to revive Mr Jones, from Gloucester. The canon later revealed emergency services had been unable to save him.

Graham Cocks, who runs SC and BS Cocks funeral directors where Mr Jones worked, said: ‘‘He was taking some flowers to the graveside and collapsed there.

‘‘He had been fine beforehand and had driven the funeral car to the church. He was a marvellous chap, well-respected and helpful and never had a cross word to say.’’

Mr Jones’s death was the third in a series of tragedies affecting the community this month.

Mr Dumper’s friend, 15-year-old Emily Munckton, was killed instantly when his Ford Orion plunged down an embankment and exploded in a fireball.

Garage assistant manager Mr Dumper, of Hucclecote, Gloucester, was taken to hospital after the accident in Churchdown near his home and died within days after suffering 65% burns and failing to regain consciousness.