Was postman who died in 27C heat forced to do round because

[pinstripe]

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" A postman who collapsed and died while delivering mail during the heatwave had been forced to work because Royal Mail were short-staffed, a colleague has claimed.

Father-of-two Graham Bennett, 47, keeled over beside a block of flats as he made deliveries in temperatures which reached up to 27 degrees in Lincoln on Monday.

Local residents desperately tried to resuscitate him and dialled 999 but he died a short time later.

Today, a colleague claimed that Mr Bennett had been forced to go out hand-delivering post because Royal Mail did not have enough staff.

The postman, who would only give his name as Tom, said Mr Bennett normally worked in a desk-bound role in Lincoln's sorting office but had been told he had to cover his shift.

He said: 'Graham was a smashing bloke, just great, I met him loads but didn't know him too personally if you know what I mean.

'He normally worked in the sorting office in Lincoln, he wasn't someone who went out on rounds.

'But I was on a day off on Monday, so they forced Graham to go out and do my job in the boiling heat. I hear he didn't want to go but was forced out.

'They just don't care about the welfare of the employees as long as the post gets delivered.

'They don't give a f***. All the help they've given us in this heat is that we should rest in the shade as often as possible.

'Then they are making us do double shifts because we are so short staffed, that's why Graham was the one who went out.'

'People are having to go out in the heat at 9am and not going home until seven at night. Then they tell us we have to make sure to find ourselves some shade.

'It's ludicrous. I don't know if Graham had any underlying condition but we're all being overworked.'

Local resident Rachel Gore, 27, said she found Mr Bennett huddled in a small patch of shade by the entrance to her block of flats in obvious distress.

She said: 'We called 999 and they sent a car ambulance with a paramedic and she took over CPR - it was horrible.

'The police came and asked some questions and then called up about 20 minutes later to tell me he had died.

'I was shocked, it was just awful to be part of, I'm so sorry for his whole family. I'd never met him before and I don't know if he knew our area well.'

Another resident added: 'I was walking my dog when I saw the postman under a tree, he looked like he was taking a breather.

'It was getting pretty hot and there was no breeze which made it feel even hotter.

'The poor man was sweating but I assumed he was taking a break because of the hot weather.'

Nick Martens, a spokesman for Royal Mail, told MailOnline the company was not able to comment on any of the allegations pending further investigation.

He added: 'Royal Mail confirms that one of our colleagues at the Lincoln Delivery Office died this week while out delivering the mail.

'Our thoughts are very much with his family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.'

Britain's blistering heatwave has already claimed the lives of up to 760 people as forecasters warn temperatures will today remain in the 30s for a sixth consecutive day.

In another tragedy, a 21-year-old father died after falling from a roof of a flat where he was believed to have been sunbathing in Consett, County Durham.

At least 13 people are believed to have died in drowning accidents while a four-week-old baby was among ten children to have been treated for extreme sunburn by a specialist burns unit in Sussex.

Graham was a huge rugby fan and was pictured with his wife Fiona, 51, both wearing British Lions team shirts at the 2nd test in Melbourne just two weeks ago.

Tributes posted on social networking sites described Graham as a popular figure in the community.

Mark Clay said Graham, from Saxilby, Lincolnshire, was a honest and reliable man.

Posting on Facebook, he said: 'The times spent with you weren't about work chat or anything like that they were, just a laugh, there are so many good memories of you that I'd be here all night, hope your at peace, taken too young but you'll never be forgotten buddy, lots of love to Fiona and family.'

Lee Marshall Ritchie said: 'Will miss you Graham, it was a pleasure to work alongside you in my time at RM, your passing leaves our office in shock and we are still struggling to comprehend everything that's gone on. R.I.P my friend.'

Former colleague Julie Daly, added: 'Such sad news Graham was my boss when I started at Royal Mail many years ago. I haven't been there for a while and couldn't believe it when I heard. My thoughts go out to his family.'

On hearing of Graham's death, local resident Rachel Gallimore criticised the conditions that postmen have to work in saying bosses should be more considerate of hot weather.

'I reckon that if it gets to a certain temperature then they shouldn't be out in the heat,' she wrote. 'We wouldn't allow them to deliver in thick snow because of the danger of slipping so why allow them to be in danger of heat stroke or dehydration. Drinking plenty of water is fine but in this heat it wont be in the body for very long.'

[mandelsons_toenail]

f***ing hell

[Ahebban]

H&S meeting with Dim tomorrow .. warned him before about how the heat-wave will have a dramatic impact on delivery posties. I suspect new advice will be made available.

Sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues, RIP.

[DB1100]

Some one's head should roll for this,we had one lad go off with sunstroke today.

[bandit650]

I can only say that i send my heart felt condolences to the postman's family may he rest in peace.

[Puppetmaster]

My thoughts are with this guys family.

Our revision is meant to be implemented very shortly with substantial later start times, and their for later times starting your rounds (park and loop)

As for the comment about snow and ice ,we are now forced to go out in any condition. Know a guy who was forced to go out in snow and ice and suffered serious injures, with life changing implications .

All this proves RM is not interested in your welfare.

If they were really interested they would allow staff to start earlier and complete their rounds before the hottest part of the day. Instead of forcing them to work in the hottest part with a ever increasing work load

Lets hope their are no more injuries due to weather.
RIP

[ebbzie]

This should be reported on the national news , its a total disgrace the way we are being treated.
Could the manager who sent him out be held responsible?
We should be starting/finishing earlier in these extreme conditions, not be faced with the comments "mails down extra lapsing " followed by try stay in the shade!!! F**king idiots

[hans solo]

corporate manslaughter now and the person responsible for forcing him to go on deliveries should be charged by police

[boogyman]

someone should be held accountable! why can't we start earlier in this heat? i thought the reason for flexing was making up the shortfall in hrs because mail volumes are down. then can anyone high up in union on here please comment on why we have managers and union guys throwing walks off while were on ips just so they can try and get us out so we can flex.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Tragic. Feel for the man, and for those he has left behind.

This should be investigated thoroughly, and by an independent outsider like the police, not internally, so it can be brushed under the carpet.
Strong possibility RM/the manager(s) and DOM at the office may attempt to lay the blame on the postie if there is only an internal investigation.

[Glenno]

[FinishOnTime]

Edited. Very sad

[mvinny]

I am a postie in Exeter. Last Saturday temperatures reached 31c and today (Thursday) 29c, temperatures have been in the high 20's all week.
We were told to drink plenty of water and wear a hat!
When will the union step in and try to get a temporary change of starting / finishing times so we are not walking around in these conditions or will it take the death of another colleague before anything is done?

[Pinky 1]

For those of us working in deliveries this story really brings it home to you.
Most of us can relate to the bullying and harassment, all of us understand the extreme temperatures we're currently working in.
So sad.

[fishtank]

I think everybody should cool it with the allegations.

It looks like the family are unhappy with press speculation about the cause of death which nobody has a clue about until the coroners report.

The weather may have been a contributory factor,it may not and whether the decision to send him out on delivery was right or wrong is something we also have no information about.

I don't mind criticising Royal Mail but I think in this case primarily for the sake of his family but also for your own job security we should at least wait until more facts are known.