A care worker from North Glasgow died while battling Storm Emma on the way to work.
The body of Elaine McNeill was discovered on Kippen Street on the morning of February 28 after she had reportedly fallen ill.
The alarm was raised after Elaine’s manager conducted a search using her phone having not heard from the home carer. Elaine had worked for Cordia care service for fifteen years.
Police are not treating Elaine’s death as suspicious.
A spokesperson for Cordia told the Evening Times:
We are shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Cordia employee, Elaine McNeill in the Milton area of Glasgow.
Elaine worked with Cordia for 15 years as a popular and valued member of our Home Care team.
We don’t have any further details about the circumstances of the incident but will be working with the authorities.
Our thoughts are with her family at this time.
Labour & Co-op MP for Glasgow North East Paul Sweeney MP tweeted a tribute to the care worker:
This is tragic. My thoughts go out to Elaine’s family and her colleagues.
Mrs McNeill continued in her duty of care for others even in the worst of conditions.
Although the circumstances are still to be confirmed, please don’t take any unnecessary risks.
Elaine died while the UK was being shook by unusually severe weather, which continues to impact many regions.
Consultant in Health Protection at Public Health England Dr Thomas Waite told the Met Office:
Weather like this is extremely rare in this country – and it brings very real risks to health.
Those with heart and lung conditions, the over 65s and young children may struggle to cope in conditions like these and even the fit and well may feel the ill effects of this exceptional weather.
Although the weather will vary from place to place staying warm will help keep you well. Our advice is heat homes to at least 18C, to keep a close eye on weather forecasts and plan your day around them and think if there are people that you’re able to check up on, please do.
There has been further tragedy in Leeds, with the body of a 75-year-old woman having been discovered partially concealed underneath a parked car. The city had been hit hard by blizzards.
A commuter discovered the body while on their way to work, at a time when temperatures reached lows of -6°C. This death is also not being treated as suspicious, with enquiries beginning as of today.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, James Entwistle Detective Inspector of Leeds District CID made the following statement regarding the pensioners death:
We are currently carrying out enquiries into the circumstances but at this stage there is nothing to suggest her death is suspicious.
We have established the woman’s identity and are in contact with her family.
We would like to hear from anyone who saw her in the area at any time prior to her being found this morning. She may have appeared confused.
Our thoughts go out to Elaine’s husband and children at this difficult time.
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.