My fantastic dad died suddenly yesterday, only 73 and relatively fit and healthy. He'd been to the gym, come home and was fitting a towel rail in the bathroom as it was loose. It looks like it was a heart attack, my mum heard a thud but thought he'd dropped the rail (it would have been very likely) so didn't do anything. She went up a few minutes later to sort out lunch with him and found him on the landing. She tried to do CPR and called 999, but the paramedics couldn't save him and he was pronounced dead before I got there. I had to ring my brother and tell him to get there and he had to ring me to tell me to not rush as there was no need.
There was no indication of him feeling unwell (he would definitely have told my mum if he had felt poorly), there was nothing anyone could have done even if my mum had gone up straightaway. I feel guilty that I wasn't there with my mum and brother when they pronounced him dead, although I know that it wouldn't really have changed anything.
I've had to tell my 7 and 8 year old this morning, my daughter absolutely doted on him and is distraught, my son is being a bit more stoic (we think he doesn't know how to react and so is internalising all his thoughts). My brother isn't coping at all and won't let me help him (not that I know how). I've spent the day with my brother and mum, trying to sort whatever admin bits we can, but we can't do mum until the PM has been done.
I don't really know why I am posting here as there's nothing anyone can do, but it seems to be helping me to write everything down at the minute. Thanks for reading my essay.