Denver mail carrier steps around man who died

U.S. Postal Service trucks are seen parked near the loading dock at the U.S. Post Office sort center Aug. 12, 2011, in San Francisco. / Getty Images

DENVER The U.S. Postal Service is defending a mail carrier who stepped around a Denver man who collapsed and died near his front door.

Dale Porch, 46, was dropped off at home last week after working the night shift for the Regional Transportation District but never made it inside. Family members said hours later, a mail carrier walked by the body to deliver the mail but did nothing to help.

"I don't know how he sleeps at night," Hedy Porch, the man's wife, told KMGH-TV. Porch's body was discovered by his adult son who called 911 but efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

"When we found the body later around noon, he was still warm. Maybe if the mailman had done something, he would still be here," Kimberly Cordova, Porch's sister-in-law, told the station.

KMGH-TV reports the carrier has been temporarily taken off the route. The family said the carrier told them he thought the body was a mannequin, a decoration left over from Halloween.

A Postal Service spokesman called it "very unfortunate situation and one that probably would not happen any other time of year. We are very sorry for the family's loss and have conveyed our condolences, and those of the carrier, to the family."

The Postal Service statement also said that "we know this carrier to be a conscientious and dedicated employee. He is someone who would not fail to help a customer, if he knew they were in need."

An autopsy report is pending.

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Good grief!!! It's NOT the mailman's fault that the guy keeled over!!! If you don't see somebody fall and just see something lying there, you could have very well thought it was a leftover Halloween decoration. It was NOT the mailman's job to go check to see if it was real or not. If I saw somebody obviously in distress I would not hesitate to help and I am sure the mailman would too, BUT if I did not know I sure wouldn't take the time to investigate.