Funeral-goers forced to manually carry gentleman on final journey as hearse gets stuck in West Yorkshire snow deluge

Undertakers have thanked good samaritans who helped carry a coffin up a path blocked by snow at a funeral in West Yorkshire, as family said the gentleman would have "chuckled to himself" at being "wheeled uphill".
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The hearse carrying the gentleman on his final journey became trapped by inches of snow at Park Wood Crematorium in Elland yesterday (Thursday), as mourners rolled up their sleeves and manually carried him up the icy driveway.

It came as West, South and North Yorkshire were hit with amber weather warnings by the Met Office after thousands woke up to several inches of snow.

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Yesterday's severe weather caused dozens of road collisions and led to many motorists becoming stranded.

Mourners rolled up their sleeves and helped carry a gentleman on his final journey at a funeral in Elland, Halifax, yesterday after the hearse became stuck in the snowMourners rolled up their sleeves and helped carry a gentleman on his final journey at a funeral in Elland, Halifax, yesterday after the hearse became stuck in the snow
Mourners rolled up their sleeves and helped carry a gentleman on his final journey at a funeral in Elland, Halifax, yesterday after the hearse became stuck in the snow

But undertakers at Hebden Bridge Funeral Service were not expecting to be among the minor casualties as they set off for a client's final journey in Calderdale.

Paula Brennan, who runs the company with her daughter Ebonie, said: "Snow doesn't stop us saying goodbye, and we had to manually take our gentleman on his final part of his journey as the hearse couldn't make it any further.

Ms Brennan has thanked mourners at another funeral at the crematorium who stepped in to help.

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"There are still plenty of goodhearted people in this world and we are grateful beyond words," she added.

Snow in Halifax, West Yorkshire, yesterdaySnow in Halifax, West Yorkshire, yesterday
Snow in Halifax, West Yorkshire, yesterday

Family of the gentleman who passed away, who did not want to be named, said: "We are extremely grateful to Paula and everyone that helped today.

"They still treated our family member with respect whilst working out how to get him to the crematorium. He would have been chuckling to himself about being wheeled up the hill."

The Met Office issued another weather warning for ice across Yorkshire this morning after yesterday's snow deluge.

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The yellow ice warning is in place in Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, York, Doncaster, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Scarborough, Bridlington and Northallerton.

The yellow weather warning is in place on Friday, and is then extended as a warning for snow and ice on Saturday.