Hearse carrying a coffin goes up in flames: Firefighters pay tribute to family who went through additional trauma on what was already a ‘sad enough day’

• A blaze almost entirely consumed the vehicle in Church Stretton, Shropshire

A hearse carrying a coffin went up in flames on its way to a funeral, putting a mourning family through additional pain on an already tragic day.

The blaze almost entirely consumed the vehicle in Church Stretton, Shropshire, on Monday, with dramatic pictures showing the burned out car in the aftermath.

Horrified witnesses reported the fire at around 1.20pm, the Shropshire Star reports, and firefighters from nearby Church Stretton and Craven Arms fire services attended the scene.

Fortunately, brave members of the public and staff were able to get the coffin inside the car safely out before the flames took hold.

A spokesperson from Church Stretton Fire Station said: ‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the family which would have been a sad enough day as it is without this additional sad news.’ 

Church Stretton fire service shared pictures of firefighters attending a vehicle fire on Monday

Brave members of the public and firefighters were able to get the coffin inside the car safely out before the flames took hold

The service added of the incident yesterday: ‘Church Stretton Station attending a vehicle fire today which involved a hearse carrying a coffin to a funeral.

‘Staff and public managed to get the coffin out of the vehicle before that became involved, so well done to everyone there.’

It comes after a similar incident just last week, which saw a coffin end up on the side of a busy motorway in Co Cork, Ireland.

The hearse carrying the casket was said to be travelling from Cork to Dublin when it suffered a suspected fault and caught on fire.

Firefighters were pictured attending the scene and were able to bring the blaze under control.

Video of the shocking scene shows a hearse-style Mercedes van badly damaged by the flames.

The man filming the video shows firefighters near the smoking wreckage before panning the camera around to capture the coffin on the roadside.

He then walks towards the casket and says: ‘It isn’t every day you come across this, lads.’ 

The Irish Mirror reports that the coffin was not thought to contain any human remains. No one was injured in the incident.

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