Brit tourists scatter relative's ashes at popular beach sparking health scare

15 May 2024 , 13:18

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The man's ashes were scattered at sea

Brit tourists sparked a health alert in a holiday hotspot after wading into the sea to scatter the ashes of a relative.

Health officials in Marmaris, in south-west Turkey, launched an investigation into water samples after locals became concerned over ashes being scattered at the Uzunyali beach. The beach was a favoured spot of a Brit man who died at sea.

A photo of the memorial showed a group of some 15 people wading into the water. People were seen gathering in the water as one onlooker appeared to record the scattering of the ash.

Water tests were arranged by local authorities following the backlash from locals. The regional District Health Directorate said swimmers were warned that spreading the ashes near the beach could endanger people's health.

Marmaris is a top destination for Brits (Getty Images)

Turkey imposes limits on bringing cremated ashes into the country and the funeral practice is not legal in Turkey, MailOnline reported. Cremation is not legal in the Muslim majority country and there are no cremation facilities there according to the Home Office.

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Restrictions on cremation in Turkey have made it difficult for people wanting to scatter their loved ones ashes in the past. MailOnline later reported the water tests arranged by local authorities were not directly linked to the scattering of the ashes.

One Brit shared their struggles on a bereavement forum, writing: "My wife always loved Turkey from the first time we went there 40 years ago and many, many times after. So it was a no brainer where she would want to be at rest.

An investigation was sparked after the ashes were scattered (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

“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. I was told what I could and could not do every step of the way by officials.”

The British government advises finding a local funeral director to arrange a burial in Turkey. Brits can also talk to funeral directors in the UK about bringing a person's body to Turkey.

Anders Anglesey