When someone is said goodbye in the local church in the West Frisian Aartswoud beloved residenteveryone has to rush out.
While a speech is taking place, a woman in the back of the church becomes unwell. “You initially think that she is not feeling well, because she may not have eaten, or that she has the flu, but still wanted to be present,” Berkhout reflects.
Heaters off, church doors open
But when even more visitors become unwell, unrest arises in the church. As a precaution, the heaters are turned off, the church doors are opened to ventilate and an ambulance is called. Because the paramedics are becoming too busy, they are being scaled up.
The fire brigade also comes and immediately takes measurements in the church. It soon becomes clear that carbon monoxide is probably the culprit, after which the church must be evacuated. According to Berkhout, it all happened without panic.
In order to complete the farewell service properly, improvisations are made quickly, says the funeral director. The funeral will first continue in the cemetery behind the house of worship.