Hold up on John Grant Griffiths’ body release blamed on lack of Coroner’s staff

A heartbroken family is pleading for the release of their beloved grandpa’s body but has been told only one person can sign the release – and it’s not known when they’ll be back in the office.

A grieving family trying to retrieve a grandfather’s body for burial for the past three weeks says it has been told by the State Coroner’s office there is just one employee who can sign the body out but “we don’t know when that person will be working next.”

Ms Kylie Underwood said the family had already suffered the indignity of having her father John Grant Griffiths’ body moved from Modbury Hospital where he died to Lyell McEwin Hospital after being told “the morgue at Modbury was full.”

John Griffiths with daughter Kylie Underwood on her wedding day. Kylie wants her father’s body released from the state coroner’s so she can lay him to rest.

“We just want the body released so we can bury him,” Ms Underwood said.

“We have been getting the run around for three weeks now.

“He died in Modbury Hospital 21 days ago on Tuesday and we are still waiting so we can lay him to rest.

“When I rang the Coroner’s office (on Tuesday) they told me they have just one forensic scientist who has to sign off on the release and they don’t know when that person will be working next.”

Mr Griffiths, 77, of Surrey Downs, had been in hospital for 10 weeks with issues including pneumonia, infections and dementia before passing away on July 9.

The married father of five (one deceased) and grandfather of 10 was suffering delirium when he died which is why the death was referred to the Coroner.

John Griffiths died at Modbury Hospital on July 9, 2024.

Not all reportable deaths require a post mortem in which the body of the deceased is usually released within 72 hours, according to government documents.

Mr Griffiths was a diesel mechanic who worked underground on the Broken Hill mines as a young adult and later he opened his own business “Exhaust Plus” which he ran until he retired.

A statement from the Coroner’s Office in response to questions from The Advertiser avoided addressing whether there was only one forensic scientist available to sign off the release of the body of Mr Griffiths or the allegation staff had told the family they were unaware “when that person will be working next.”

The statement says while they cannot comment on specific cases, the time taken for preparation of pathology reviews “is variable and dependent on a number of factors.”

“A review cannot be commenced until all the necessary medical notes are received and, on occasions, it may emerge further information must be obtained,” it says.

“In addition to this, the Coroner’s Office is dependent on the availability of sessional medical practitioners to conduct pathology reviews.

“Pathology reviews are undertaken in order of date of death. Having regard to these variable factors, a fixed time for the preparation of a pathology review cannot be provided.

“The Coroner’s Office is acutely aware of the distress which may be caused to families who are awaiting the release of their loved ones.

“Staff from the Coroner’s Office maintain contact with the deceased’s next of kin to advise them of progress until the body is released.”

Originally published as Hold up on John Grant Griffiths’ body release blamed on lack of Coroner’s staff