Brits cleared beach because nobody wants to swim in their dead relative’s ashes
A group of British tourists at a Turkish beach sparked a health alert after scattering their deceased relative’s ashes in the ocean.
A group of around 40 people staying in three nearby hotels had congregated on the shore in Marmaris Turkey to scatter the ashes of a relative who died at sea.
They wanted to scatter their remains on the Uzunyali beach and were pictured standing knee deep in water while scattering the ashes.
They chose the beach because it was the dead man’s favourite holiday spot.
However, people who saw what was happening were notkeen on swimming in someone’s ashes so contacted health authorities who launched an investigation.
They were seen taking samples from the water, but it is not believed they were related to the spreading of the ashes.
Cremation is not allowed under Islamic law but anyone who dies in Turkey that is not Muslim can be buried in line with their own practices.
People can scatter their loved one’s ashes and airlines allow them onboard, but restrictions remain in place when you land.
One Brit wrote on the Sue Ryder bereavement support charity forum and spoke of how long it took to get permission to spread ashes in Turkey.
They said: ‘My wife always loved Turkey from the first time we went there 40 years ago… so it was a no brainer where she would want to be at rest. Unfortunately it’s never that simple.
‘It took me nearly two years to get permissions set up with UK airport, airline, Turkish airport, Turkish Government, Turkish Local Council Officials, Main Mosque Representatives, Turkish Police, and Local Port Authorities.’
But other ash scatterings have gone wrong – in 2015, a man who was scattering his relative’s ashes in Cornwall was swept out to sea.
The 51-year-old was overwhelmed by a wave at Trebarwith Strand.
Conditions for the search were ‘unfavourable with gale force winds and rough seas,’ according to Falmouth Coastguard watch manager, Neil Oliver.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.