How do you bring a loved one home from Sierra Leone?

Timeline

How long does repatriation from Sierra Leone take?

In most cases, repatriation from Sierra Leone takes 3 to 5 weeks. The fastest straightforward cases complete in 2 to 3 weeks. Complex cases involving a post-mortem, criminal investigation, or a remote location can extend to 6 to 10 weeks or beyond.

What makes a case complex?

• 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

Documentation

What documents are required to bring a body home from Sierra Leone?

All of these documents must be in place before air transport can proceed. Your appointed repatriation coordinator will obtain most of them.

British Embassy

What does the British Embassy in Sierra Leone do when someone dies?

For British nationals, the British Embassy provides consular assistance, which includes giving you a list of local funeral directors, helping you notify relatives, and advising on local procedures. What the Embassy cannot do is pay for repatriation, organise the funeral director, or make arrangements on your behalf. If your loved one was a citizen of another country, contact that country's embassy or consulate instead.

Getting started

How do you start the repatriation process from Sierra Leone?

Call a specialist repatriation company. Do not wait until all other steps are complete. A specialist can begin the process immediately, even before the local death certificate has been issued.

You will need to provide: the name of the deceased, the location of the body, your contact details, and the name and contact of the local hospital or authority holding the body.