This is the moment British tourists headed into the sea to spread a loved one’s ashes, causing a health scare among “terrified” locals at a popular Turkish swimming spot.
Video shared by Ibrox Bar Marmaris, a Rangers FC sports bar in the Uzunyalı Beach showed a large group of people hugging and scattering ashes off the coast on Monday morning.
The family had reportedly traveled with the intention of scattering the ashes on the beach, the late relative’s favorite vacation spot, in a moving ceremonial tribute.
Health authorities in Marmaris, on the southern Aegean coast, were reportedly forced to launch a hasty investigation following backlash from locals concerned about possible water contamination.
Bathers warned that the scattering of ashes in popular waters just steps from the coast could endanger health.
Local reports later reclaimed The samples taken from the sea “had nothing to do with the incident” and were, however, part of a “routine inspection.”
While the cremation process kills all potential microorganisms that carry health risks, the practice is not legal in Turkey and restrictions are in place to limit the entry of ashes into the country.
A group of ’40 friends and family’ attended in honor of the deceased Briton
However, swimmers expressed concern that the family was scattering ashes too close to the beach.
A witness said the group traveled to scatter the ashes at the man’s favorite spot.
The family of the deceased spreads the ashes of their late relative 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 honor of the deceased.
“The daughter explained that her 43-year-old father had died and that everyone wanted to remember him by placing his ashes in the sea on his favorite beach in Marmaris,” Paul said, adding that the family had been visiting the area. ‘for many years’.
‘On their first day about 20 of them gathered at the Asda Maris hotel and had a wonderful day eating, drinking beer and cocktails, using the pool and slide, so they were generally in good spirits before they dispersed the ashes. ‘
The water tests organized by local authorities were not directly related to concerns about the ash, local media later reported against initial claims.
There is also no immediate health risk from ash in the sea.
Cremation occurs at such high temperatures that any microorganisms that could cause health problems are destroyed in the process.
But restrictions on scattering ashes in Turkey have caused great discomfort to travelers in the past.
British forum users have described the long process of working through Turkish and British bureaucracy to obtain permission to organize a farewell.
Robin, writing about Sue Ryder’s bereavement support charity forumHe said it took them almost two years to obtain permission from all relevant authorities to scatter his wife’s ashes.
“My wife has always loved Turkey since the first time we went there 40 years ago… so I had no idea where she would want to rest,” they wrote.
‘Unfortunately it is never that simple.
“It took me almost two years to obtain the permissions established by the UK airport, the airline, the Turkish airport, the Turkish government, Turkish local council officials, representatives of the main mosque, Turkish police and local port authorities “.
Still, they said they were finally able to arrange the trip and that her “mind is at peace” after being able to do “the last thing I could physically do for her.”
While some airlines allow passengers to bring ashes to Turkey in carry-on luggage, there are still restrictions 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 Türkiye, the British government adviselooking for a local funeral director to arrange the burial, who “will be able to explain the local process.”
Turkey is a Muslim country and while it is permissible for non-Muslims to be buried according to their own burial practices within the country, Islamic law does not allow cremation.
The mourner may also arrange for the repatriation of the body to his home.
In 2022, cultural sensitivities were felt over the matter when a Turk was accidentally cremated in a Hanover hospital.
The moving tribute was organized by the family of the deceased Briton, according to Turkish media.
Uzunyalı Beach, in southwestern Turkey, was the favorite place of the deceased
Illustrative image showing Turunc Bay in Marmaris, one of the many beautiful parts of the coast.
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 the MHH hospital in Hannover.
His body was to be transported to a funeral company for an Islamic burial, at the family’s request.
After the horrifying discovery, an inmate at the hospital’s morgue admitted to making a mistake when mixing the bodies, according to Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah.
The family expressed concern about why the body had been cremated so soon after Sargın’s death, and local police launched an investigation.
