Re: Report: Pilot "froze" mid flight
"Ryanair pilots are stood down from flying duties for safety reasons following family bereavements after a captain"
Bereavements are, sadly, not uncommon occurrences. The company has been established for plenty long enough for the HR department to have thought through all the "what if" situations and the follow up procedures prior to this poor pilot putting him/herself through the mill.
Going on the info given, it sounds like the HR department failed in their responsibility of having in place a procedure to cover just such a situation.
I hope all companies learn from this and if not already there, work out how this situation should be handled prior to the poor bereaved person having to deal with it themselves.