Mortician details what occurs to your body within 24 hours after death

The body is a remarkable entity...but how does it manage after death?

A mortician addressed numerous burning questions people have about death, including what occurs to the body after we pass away.

Death is one of life's only certainties, and though it may seem grim, we have numerous inquiries about it.

Some of these questions are spiritual, concerning what happens to us when we die, while others are more focused on what happens to the body once our soul departs.

Funeral director and mortician Victor M. Sweeney sat down with Ladbible Stories to respond to numerous questions submitted in the 'honesty box'.

Diving into the specifics of his profession, he addressed one of the most crucial questions about death: what occurs to the body in the first 24 hours.

While most people know that the body begins decomposing immediately after death, the rate at which this occurs can vary greatly, according to Sweeney.

He explained: “This is referred to as the post-mortem interval.

“It’s the period between when someone dies and when I might collect them, or between death and cremation or embalming.

“Embalming slows down the decomposition process.

“During those 24 hours, depending on the environment, things can either go very smoothly or very, very poorly.”

He mentioned that in one instance, a person who had been deceased for over 24 hours was found in relatively good condition, considering how quickly a body can change.

He added: “I’ve encountered situations where someone was found two days later, but they were in a fairly controlled environment, like a cooler room, so it wasn’t a big issue.

“However, the blood tends to settle, which is known as livor mortis, causing it to accumulate at the bottom of the body.

"Additionally, with more time and the right conditions, it will solidify into a jelly-like substance."

"It can be quite unpleasant, but it varies greatly. There's no definitive change that occurs exactly at 24 hours, as it depends on the environment and the individual."

Sweeney also elaborated on the significance of embalming and its role in slowing down decomposition.

He mentioned that a deceased body isn't necessarily hazardous, but it does begin to behave differently.

He added: "When we die, our bodies begin to break down. Within just an hour after death, the bacteria in your gut that aid in digestion become unchecked due to the absence of an immune system."

"Over a few days, as we wait for a funeral, these unchecked bacteria can cause the body to bloat, turn green, or the skin to peel off."