He feared he would shuffle off this mortal coil alone.
shuffle off this mortal coil
idiomTo die; to divest oneself of one's mortal body.
Origin
disputed originFrom Hamlet by William Shakespeare, see mortal coil.
The old king knew he would soon shuffle off this mortal coil, so he called his children to his bedside.
In the dim candlelight of the tower, the weary knight whispered that he was ready to shuffle off this mortal coil and join his fallen brothers in whatever peace awaited beyond.