This is the moment British tourists threw themselves into the sea to scatter a loved one’s ashes, sparking a health scare among “panicked” residents at a popular swimming spot in Turkey.
Video shared by Ibrox Bar Marmaris, a Rangers FC sports bar at Uzunyalı Beach showed a large group of people hugging each other and sprinkling ashes off the coast on Monday morning.
The family reportedly traveled with the intention of spreading the ashes on the beach, the late relative’s favorite vacation spot, in a touching tribute ceremony.
Health authorities in Marmaris, on the southern Aegean coast, were reportedly prompted to launch a hasty investigation following negative reactions from locals over possible water contamination.
Swimmers have warned that spreading ash into popular waters just steps from the coastline could endanger health.
Local reports later claimed that the samples taken at sea “had nothing to do with the incident” and were, however, part of a “routine inspection”.
Although the cremation process kills any potential microorganisms that pose health risks, the practice is not legal in Turkey and restrictions are in place to limit the introduction of ashes into the country.
A group of ’40 friends and family’ gathered in honor of the late Briton
Swimmers expressed concern that the family was scattering the ashes too close to the beach.
A witness said the group went to scatter the ashes at the man’s favorite spot.
Family of man who died at sea scatters his late relative’s ashes on Uzunyalı beach
A witness, staying at the nearby Asda Maris Hotel, told MailOnline today that there were ’40 people staying in three hotels’, including friends and family, who had made the trip in l honor of the deceased, who may have died at sea.
“The girl explained that her 43-year-old father had died and they all wanted to remember him by placing his ashes in the sea at his favorite beach in Marmaris,” Paul said.
Water tests organized by local authorities were not directly linked and there is no immediate health risk posed by the ash in the sea.
Cremation occurs at temperatures so high that any microorganisms that could cause health problems are destroyed in the process.
But restrictions on the scattering of ashes in Türkiye have already caused significant inconvenience to travelers.
Users on the British forum described the long process of working with Turkish and British bureaucracies to obtain permission to hold a farewell.
Robin, writing on the bereavement support charity forum Sue Ryder, said it took them almost two years to get permission from all the relevant authorities to scatter their wife’s ashes.
“My wife has always loved Turkey since the first time we went there 40 years ago… so it was obvious she would want to relax,” they wrote.
“Unfortunately, it’s never that simple.
“It took me almost two years to get permissions from the UK airport, the airline, the Turkish airport, the Turkish government, Turkish local council officials, representatives of the main mosques, Turkish police and local port authorities.”
Still, they said they were finally able to arrange the trip and their “minds were at peace” after being able to do “the last physical thing I could do for her.”
Although some airlines allow passengers to take their ashes to Turkey in their carry-on luggage, restrictions remain in place on what people can do with them after landing.
Cremation is not legal in Türkiye and there are no cremation facilities.
When a Briton dies in Turkey, the UK government advises finding a local funeral director to arrange a funeral, who “will be able to explain the local process”.
Turkey is a Muslim country and, although non-Muslims are permitted to be buried according to their own burial practices in the country, cremation is not permitted under Islamic law.
Bereaved people can also organize the repatriation of the body to their home.
In 2022, cultural sensitivities on this topic were felt when a Turk was accidentally cremated in a hospital in Hanover.
This moving tribute was organized by the family of the late Briton, according to Turkish media.
Uzunyalı Beach in southwest Turkey was one of the deceased’s favorite places.
The illustrative image shows Turunc Bay in Marmaris, one of the many beautiful parts of the coastline.
The family of Abdülkadir Sargın, a Turkish citizen, was shocked when, during funeral preparations, they discovered that the person in the coffin was a complete stranger.
Sargın, 71, died of a brain hemorrhage at MHH Hospital in Hannover.
His body was to be transported to a funeral home for an Islamic burial, at the request of the family.
After the gruesome discovery, an intern at the hospital’s morgue admitted to making a mistake and mixing the bodies, according to Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah.
The family became concerned about why the body had been cremated so soon after Sargın’s death, and local police began an investigation.