Family of father-of-three who died of brain aneurysm are ‘disgusted’ after neighbours mistakenly reported them to police for not socially distancing at his wake even though they all lived together
- Steven Smith, 47, died three days after he was diagnosed with brain aneurysm
- His family held a wake in the front garden of home they shared after his funeral
- Officers approached them amid claims they were not standing two metres apart
The family of a father-of-three were left ‘disgusted’ when neighbours mistakenly reported them to police for not socially distancing at his funeral.
Steven Smith, 47, died three days after he was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm on March 12, and he was cremated on April 9.
His heartbroken family held a wake in the front garden of their home in Mackworth, Derby after his funeral, during which they would not need to social distance as they all live at the same address.
But Mr Smith’s wife Marissa and daughter Kirsty were shocked when officers turned up at their home amid claims mourners were not standing two metres apart.
Steven Smith, who was a volunteer blood bike courier, died three days after he was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm on March 12
The pair believe a neighbour made the call earlier in the day after seeing people gather outside their home before Mr Smith’s cortège set off for Trent Valley Crematorium, in Aston-on-Trent.
But Ms Smith said people were staying ‘well away from each other’ as they waited nearby to watch her father’s coffin leave.
It was after the ceremony, when the family were standing in their front garden having a drink to remember their loved one, that police officers approached them.
Ms Smith, 21, said: ‘They came over to us and said they had been told people were not socially distancing and we could not believe what we were being told.
‘We explained to them we all lived at the same address and that today was the funeral of our dad and they apologised and left.
‘We don’t know why anyone would report us as we get on so well with all of our neighbours.
‘They all knew Steve, got on with him and knew about his death.
‘It is just disgusting that at a time like this, when everyone is going through what we are, someone felt the need to wrongly report us.’
Mr Smith’s wife and Kirsty were shocked when police turned up at their home amid claims mourners were not standing two metres apart as they held a wake in their garden (Pictured: The funeral cortège of Mr Smith)
Mr Smith, who worked as a project manager on the railways, met his wife 23 years ago through a lonely hearts advert placed in a local newspaper.
His daughter said when they got home they were told the police had been around already but everyone living at the house was at the funeral.
She said it was later that officers arrived for the second time.
Ms Smith said: ‘A few people had gathered as they knew it was dad’s funeral but everyone was staying well away from each other.
‘Because of the new guidelines only 10 of us could attend his funeral but people still wanted to see the coffin leave.
‘Dad was a volunteer for the blood bikes and because of that one of the other volunteers led the procession away with a wreath that read “RIP Steve” on it.
‘It was pretty obvious to anyone looking what was happening.’
As well as Kirsty, Mr Smith is also survived by his other children Kayleigh, 19 and Tom, 25.
Ms Smith said: ‘It is hard enough having to say goodbye to dad at such a young age and only 10 of us being allowed at his funeral having to stay three metres apart from each other was horrible.
‘But to have this happen to us as well was awful. We weren’t having any type of after party or anything like that, we were just having a drink and a laugh remembering the good times with dad.
‘We assume it was a neighbour who made the call to the police, we can’t think who else it might have been.
‘But we had done nothing wrong.’