We all know that death is inevitable, Grim Reaper has shown no mercy when it comes to collecting souls. I know this and, although this topic is upsetting to even think or talk about, there may come a time in our lives when a person we work with suddenly dies. Whether it's a colleague or client, the tragedy of an unanticipated death will naturally cause intense mixed up emotions. When a person sudden demise unexpectedly, it will take the family and friends by surprise.

So back to my story, yesterday I received a text from my colleague @verasj that my colleague Nick called and informed that my other colleague, Uncle Mathew had fainted and passed away suddenly while they doing some work at water intake for our MHP projects in Baram, Borneo's area. I was so shocked, I just got out from the plane and arriving in Kuala Lumpur that time waiting for my transit flight back to Kota Kinabalu.

Unfortunately, the line was so bad, @verasj said that is the only news Nick had informed her and they left to Long San Clinic which is 45 minutes using boat ride and the line was so bad. So when I reached Kota Kinabalu around 8 pm that night, I contacted Nick and get the details from him. He said that they are on their way back to Miri and will give updates by tomorrow.

Thankfully, most of us don't have to deal with many deaths in our lifetime. My own personal experience facing someone death whom I love dearly, I still remember when my late father sudden demise 8 years ago ( I just transferred working from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur), I received a stranger phone call in the middle of the night and informed me my father pass away. Sudden deaths often means that people's lives are ripped apart by the death of somebody very significant, close and central to their life and so we changed in some way after the sudden demise of our loved ones. It took me years and years (i am still grieving inside) to overcome my sadness and all sort of "what if", "what actually happen" and "why" still bothering me until now. Some might says it is normal to feel numb after it happens but the tears sometimes will come and they come in waves when I started to think about my late father.

Different life stories, every sudden death is different but they all are very challenging and people get traumatised easily. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' or 'normal' way to deal with the sudden passing of someone we know. How we grieved as an individual as who we are, and our cultural, personal and religious backgrounds all play a role in our response.

Hopefully the family remain calm of this sad news and sudden passing of their husband/father/grandpa and May his soul rest in peace.