Most summer holiday deaths involve cardiovascular events, road accidents, drowning, or sudden illness. A family member may be in the same resort when it happens, or at home in the UK receiving a call from local police or hospital staff. Either way, the immediate response is often confusion about who to call and what to do first.
Find the insurance policy first
Before making any other call, locate the travel insurance policy. It may be on the deceased’s phone, in an email, in a travel document folder, or on a physical card in their wallet. The insurer has a 24-hour emergency line; this is the call to make before any arrangements are set in motion locally. All major insurers expect to be notified before local funeral services are engaged. Expenses incurred without the insurer’s authorisation may not be reimbursed.
If the policy cannot be found in the first hour, two calls can happen in parallel: the FCDO on +44 (0)20 7008 5000 and a specialist repatriation coordinator. Both can advise on next steps while the policy search continues.
The FCDO and the British Embassy
FCDO Travel Advice for every country is published on gov.uk and includes the address and emergency number of the nearest British Embassy or Consulate. The Embassy registers the death, notifies next of kin where not already informed, and issues a Consular Death Registration Certificate for UK record purposes.
The British Embassy cannot fund or arrange repatriation. Their role is official: documentation, notification, and providing a list of local funeral directors. They are the first point of contact for official support in the destination country.
What happens locally after a sudden death
In most European and international holiday destinations, a sudden or unexpected death requires a post-mortem before the body is released. The post-mortem is carried out by local medical authorities; the timeline and process vary by country.
In Spain, a sudden or unattended death is referred to the Juzgado de Instruccion, which determines whether a judicial investigation is needed before releasing the body. In Greece, the public prosecutor is notified of any sudden death. In Turkey, a Cumhuriyet Savcisi (public prosecutor) oversees sudden deaths. These are standard procedures in each country and are not indicators of any suspicion or wrongdoing.
Once the post-mortem is complete and the local death certificate issued, the funeral director prepares the body for international air transport: embalming and sealing in a zinc-lined coffin as required by international transport standards.
Tour operators and package holidays
If the holiday was booked as a package, the tour operator may have assistance obligations under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Most major UK tour operators have a 24-hour crisis line for deaths abroad. Contact the operator directly; they can help coordinate with local contacts and advise on whether repatriation is covered under the package.
Timelines from common summer destinations
Repatriation from the most popular UK summer holiday destinations, assuming a physician-certified natural death, typically takes these ranges:
Spain (including the Canary Islands and Balearics): 7 to 14 days. Greece: 10 to 21 days. Turkey: 10 to 21 days. Portugal: 7 to 14 days. Egypt: 10 to 21 days. Sudden deaths referred to the local judiciary add time at any of these destinations.
For a detailed account of each stage of the process, see what happens when someone dies abroad.
For guidance on what travel insurance typically covers and what it excludes, see does travel insurance cover repatriation of remains.
Repatriate Service can be reached on +44 7703 577246, 24 hours a day, or via the enquiry form below.