Woman Sat for Hours at Hong Kong McDonald's Before Anyone Noticed She Was Dead

A woman at a McDonald's in Hong Kong sat slumped over a table for several hours before anyone noticed that something was wrong — much less that she was dead.

According to Yahoo News, police said the homeless woman was between 50 and 60 years old and had been known to frequent the fast-food restaurant at night — a part of the growing number of homeless people called "McRefugees" who shelter in 24-hour restaurants.

A woman reads outside a McDonald's in Hong Kong. (Dale de la Rey/AFP/Getty Images)

"The subject was certified dead at the scene," local police said in a statement.

The woman reportedly entered the McDonald's approximately 24 hours before she was pronounced dead and had been slumped over a table for around seven hours before patrons began to take notice. McDonald's employees reportedly called the police after they noticed that she was unconscious and cold.

"We endeavour to support street sleepers to enhance their self-reliance ... the subject is a complex social problem," a spokesperson for the city of Ping Shek's social welfare department said.

"McDonald's Hong Kong would like to express our grief over the unfortunate incident at our Ping Shek Estate restaurant," Wendy Lam, senior director of McDonald's Hong Kong, said. "We welcome everyone to visit our restaurants any time. In order to provide a pleasant dining environment, we would not disturb our customers, but our service will be offered promptly upon request."

The South China Morning Post reported that officials are still working to try to confirm the identity of the woman.  

Police do not believe that there is anything suspicious about her death.

Tables at the restaurant reopened a little more than one hour after the woman was removed from the premises by police.