Posts: 2850 |
Peewee Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 12:01 PM |
I went back into work yesterday after being off sick with vomitting and migraines! Not nice. I still wasn't feeling up to scratch but low and behold the mornings events made me forget all that!!!
One of our regular borrowers, a well know man loved by many passed away in my library!!! He looked quite dishelved which was so abnormal for him and I wondered if he was ok. He kinda wanders about and come over to me to get the newspaper every morning. Well it was a busy morning with class visits and once everything quietened another member of the public came out to us to say someone collapsed in the toilets. We rushed in to an awful sight, I think it will haunt me. The poor man, I checked for breath and pulse but it wasn't good. It was a made rush then after that, recovery/ambulance/police/paramedics. I will say the emergency services where OUTSTANDING and where there in seconds, so many turned up to try and save this man but he moved on in peace. I have never been so shook up before! My colleague was brilliant and we did what we could but at the age of 85 and what we think was a massive heart attack we lost one of our favourite members of the public!
We closed the library and waited for coroners. I'm shaking just thinking about it. The shock was massive! Our hearts just go out to his wife and family. We were getting phonecalls from many who knew him.
Today I am off work but I shall go in Saturday.
It's kind of strange. He lived for the library and was a very intellegent critic and author and presented us with one of his books. He was there everyday without fail so it is comforting in a way that bless his soul he passed away in place he loved.
It's still terribly sad! |
|
|
Posts: 8468 |
AbsolutPurple Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 12:04 PM |
| This is horrible. |
|
|
Posts: 2012 |
Darran Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 12:07 PM |
Terribly sorry to hear that Wends, not many of us I am sure have experienced such a massive shock and certainly not in the workplace.
I am sure you are terribly distraught at what you encountered but your actions, in trying to help him I'm sure will give the family some comfort in this sad time.
Just take things easy and don't be rushing in tomorrow if you don't feel capable. |
|
|
Posts: 2850 |
Peewee Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 12:15 PM |
| I balled my eyes out when he left the building! I was off today anyway but I will be ok. The place isn't freaking me out it's just sad but working with the public you just have to get on with it and show strength. Just hope we can get to the funneral and pass on our deepest sympathies to the family. |
|
|
Posts: 8468 |
AbsolutPurple Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 12:20 PM |
Darran wrote:
Just take things easy and don't be rushing in tomorrow if you don't feel capable.
I'd stay home if i were you missy. |
|
|
Posts: 8299 |
Scottish Dubliner Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 12:21 PM |
Sorry to hear this.
I'm sure he and his family appreciated the help, company and interaction you gave to an old man in the twilight of his years.
Steve
|
|
|
Posts: 789 |
Helen *the original* Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 12:38 PM |
| I'm so sorry to here this Wendy, it must have been awful! Even though a sad thing occured it's so nice to hear how much you care for the library visitors and how much people mean to you, its very warming. I'm sure if you get to the funeral the customer's family will appreciate that feeling. Take it easy today! |
|
|
Posts: 7598 |
weirdmom Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 3:06 PM |
I'm so sorry to hear what you went through and sad that this family what sounds like a lovely man.
I agree with Helen that sharing with the family what you thought of him will be very special for them. |
|
|
Posts: 4469 |
Lemon Grinner Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 3:25 PM |
| Sorry to hear that, sounds awful :( |
|
|
Posts: 2545 |
SamuraiSandy Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 4:02 PM |
| That is awful! I'm sorry to hear that. |
|
|
Posts: 8142 |
minnmess Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 5:30 PM |
Im so sorry to hear about your experience.
You should take comfort in the fact that this man's final moments were in a library that he loved so dearly with people that truly cared for him. |
|
|
Posts: 594 |
rebekah Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 5:55 PM |
aww this sounds awful :(
i hope you are okay as i imagine it was a terrible experience
:(
|
|
|
Posts: 3258 |
mili Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 6:21 PM |
I'm sorry you had to witness such a horrible thing.
On the bright side, your old faithful client probably passed away in a place he relly loved, not something everybody can have. These days death is firmly closed inside hospitals, and if you're unlucky you spend your last years tied in a bed (half vegetable), not knowing much what's going around you. I'd say the old fellow was lucky, that's the way I'd like to go (well, not in my local library, perhaps, but you get the idea). |
|
|
Posts: 1129 |
mozman68 Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 8:06 PM |
I'm sure he would have preferred it happened reading in a nice chair or at a table....the bathroom though??
At least it was in a library. |
|
|
Posts: 2850 |
Peewee Posted Fri 13 Jun, 2008 9:02 PM |
mozman68 wrote: I'm sure he would have preferred it happened reading in a nice chair or at a table....the bathroom though??
At least it was in a library.
Maybe it was best it happened in the toilets, I know it's not nice at all but best we found him there than one of the kids from the class visit. God they would have been traumatised! Especially when they have to do a treasure hunt thing round the library and find info in the papers! :-/
Thankyou all for your comments!!!!!!!
Just so unexpected. My boos was going to the house today to give over a sympathy card from us all and show some comfort that he was well loved etc.
It will just be odd not seeing him everyday but he is at Peace! And true atleast it was a horribly drawn out thing at a hospital.
Tomorrow is just a half day and the shock has died down. I have many great people around my I can chat too :) |
|
|
