Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Sierra Leone
This guide explains what happens after a death in Sierra Leone, who to contact, and how to arrange for your loved one to be brought home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country. Facts for British nationals come from FCDO and government sources. Every situation is different, and if you would like us to take over the arrangements, send us the details.
Typical timeline
3 to 5 weeks
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
When a British national dies in Sierra Leone, contact the British High Commission in Freetown and the FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000.
Sierra Leone is a Commonwealth country with English as the official language and a long historical relationship with Britain. The High Commission is an active and supportive presence. But there is one logistical factor that applies to every single case: the estuary crossing to Lungi Airport.
Step one: Notify the High Commission and FCDO
British High Commission Freetown: +232 22 232 961 FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000 (available 24 hours)
Step two: Appoint a specialist
Appoint a repatriation company with West Africa experience. Ask specifically: do they have experience managing the Lungi Airport estuary crossing? Have they worked with Connaught Hospital in Freetown?
Step three: Register the death
Register the death at the local registrar’s office. Unnatural deaths require a coroner inquest and post-mortem at Connaught Hospital, Freetown.
The Lungi Airport crossing
Lungi International Airport (FNA) is on a separate peninsula across the Sierra Leone River estuary from Freetown. There is no road bridge.
Every movement of a body between Freetown and the airport requires:
- Ferry: approximately 45 minutes crossing; can be suspended by weather or mechanical issues
- Hovercraft: faster, also subject to conditions
- Helicopter: Paramount Aviation offers charter services; most reliable option but more expensive
This crossing cannot be avoided. It is a cost and timeline factor in every Sierra Leone case, without exception.
Connaught Hospital
Connaught Hospital is the main public hospital and forensic centre in Freetown. Its forensic pathology capacity is limited. Complex post-mortems can take significantly longer than in better-resourced facilities.
Upcountry deaths
Deaths in the Northern, Eastern, and Southern provinces require road transfer to Freetown. Roads deteriorate significantly in the rainy season (May to November). Deaths in Bo, Kenema, Kailahun, or other provincial centres add substantial time and cost.
Routing to the UK
From Lungi Airport, connections via Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc) or Brussels (Brussels Airlines). No direct UK flights.
Cremation is not standard in Sierra Leone. Body repatriation is the expected route.
Timeline and cost
- Natural death in Freetown: 2 to 3 weeks
- Unnatural death: 4 to 6 weeks
- Upcountry death: 5 to 8 weeks
Further resources
- FCDO Sierra Leone travel advice (gov.uk)
- Repatriation from Sierra Leone to the UK: full country guide
First things first
What to do in the first 24 hours
The immediate period after a death abroad is disorienting. Here are the steps in the order they normally need to happen.
Contact local emergency services
Contact the embassy or consulate
Tell the embassy or consulate of your loved one's own country as soon as possible. It can register the death, give you a list of local funeral directors and explain what the local authorities will need.
British nationals, FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Appoint a local funeral director
A local funeral director in Sierra Leone will take care of the body, arrange embalming, obtain the necessary documents, and coordinate with airlines. The embassy can recommend accredited directors. You can also contact a specialist UK repatriation company, who will coordinate with a local partner on your behalf.
Contact your travel insurer
If your loved one had travel insurance with repatriation cover, contact the insurer immediately. They will often have an emergency assistance line and may appoint their own funeral director. Many policies cover the full cost of repatriation, subject to the limit set out in the policy schedule.
Gather the required documents
Repatriation from Sierra Leone requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
What to expect
How long does it take?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- Lungi Airport is across the Sierra Leone River estuary from Freetown: ferry, hovercraft, or helicopter crossing required on every case
- Limited forensic pathology capacity at Connaught Hospital
- Upcountry deaths requiring road transfer to Freetown
- Unnatural deaths requiring coroner inquest
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Sierra Leone alone. Our cost page sets out the ranges repatriation firms publish, each named and dated. What you pay turns on the specifics of the case.
| Where the death happened | Distance to the departure airport, and any island or overland transfer, changes the freight arrangement |
| Whether a post-mortem is ordered | An investigation holds the release and adds mortuary time |
| Documentation required | Sierra Leone paperwork, translation, and any legalisation step |
| Coffin and preparation | Airline and destination rules dictate what is needed |
| Flight availability | Direct services cost less to arrange than multi-leg cargo routing |
| Insurance | Whether a policy covers repatriation, and up to what limit |
Send us the details and we will give you a figure for your case, with no obligation.
Full repatriation guide for Sierra Leone
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideSend us the details
If you need someone to take over the arrangements, tell us what has happened. We arrange repatriation from Sierra Leone to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Sierra Leone
Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing your loved one home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Official lists for Sierra Leone
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Sierra Leone · Frequently asked questions