Funeral Drama as 300kg Man’s Cremation Poses Challenges

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from funeral.

 

A different problem occurred on January 12, at Wat Pradu Lai crematorium in Klong Mae Lai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, at the funeral of Mr. Wiwat, a 36-year-old man weighing 300kg. Due to his unusually large size, both in weight and build, the cremation process presented numerous difficulties, requiring the assistance of many people.

 

Mr. Wiwat passed away on January 10, from multiple complications, including kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, and high blood sugar. He had been admitted to Kamphaeng Phet Hospital on January 9 with severe breathing difficulties after being transported by a local rescue team.

 

The body, wrapped in a white shroud as it could not fit into a traditional coffin, was carried by several villagers and crematorium workers. Following traditional rituals, the body was paraded around the crematorium before attempts were made to place it inside the furnace. Despite numerous efforts using iron bars and wooden poles, the task remained unsuccessful even after more than an hour of pushing, as the body would not pass through the opening.

 

The turning point came when Mr. Somnuk, the deceased’s 59-year-old father, spoke emotionally to his son: “Golf, please go in. Your father and everyone else are tired.” Soon after, the body began to inch into the furnace, finally fitting entirely.

 

The ceremony continued amid astonishment and murmurs from attendees, many of whom remarked they had never witnessed such a challenging cremation before.

 

Mr. Somnuk expressed his gratitude to community leaders and villagers for their assistance, recounting the hardships faced in both caring for his son during his illness and conducting the funeral. He explained that even transporting his son to the hospital required a specialised vehicle due to his size.

 

-- 2025-01-14

 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

man weighing 300kg

I'm sure we have a few here who are in the 300kg club. 

[cdemundo]

1 minute ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I'm sure we have a few here who are in the 300kg club. 

 I have my doubts.

No doubt a lot of everweight guys here.

At 300 kg, that's like the weight of a hog, not many humans get that big.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Despite numerous efforts using iron bars and wooden poles, the task remained unsuccessful even after more than an hour of pushing, as the body would not pass through the opening.

So no-one had the foresight to think about this before the fiasco set-in.

[cdnvic]

A post in poor taste was removed.

[Callmeishmael]

My wife's grandfather was quite tall for an older Thai man (actually Malay, but he lived in Thailand for decades).  The funeral procession included an older gentleman solemnly carrying a saw.  When we reached the part where we pushed the coffin into the crematorium, we paused while he carefully measured and sawed off about 10cm from the bottom of the coffin! 

 

As the husband of the oldest grandchild I was one of the men chosen to push him into the crematorium.  So I had a close up view of them opening the coffin and pushing his feet up, out of the way, before the sawing took place.  For a 97 year old man who had been dead for a week, he didn't look too bad!

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, Callmeishmael said:

My wife's grandfather was quite tall for an older Thai man (actually Malay, but he lived in Thailand for decades).  The funeral procession included an older gentleman solemnly carrying a saw.  When we reached the part where we pushed the coffin into the crematorium, we paused while he carefully measured and sawed off about 10cm from the bottom of the coffin! 

 

As the husband of the oldest grandchild I was one of the men chosen to push him into the crematorium.  So I had a close up view of them opening the coffin and pushing his feet up, out of the way, before the sawing took place.  For a 97 year old man who had been dead for a week, he didn't look too bad!

 

I am glad that you put the second paragraph in.

For a moment there I thought that they had cut off his feet. Sorry.

[Justanotherone]

we will have the first part of the cremation in the morning and the last part after lunch?

[Stiddle Mump]

4 hours ago, cdemundo said:

 I have my doubts.

No doubt a lot of everweight guys here.

At 300 kg, that's like the weight of a hog, not many humans get that big.

300 kg is a very heavy dude. Maybe they could have lay him down and rolled him to the fire.

 

I think someone -- a friend or bar-girl - could have had a word and explained to him that there could be potential problems, if he didn't shed at least half of his weight.

[Peterphuket]

Excuse me, but I find this deeply sad, when you want to pay your last respects to someone and then these complications occur.
You don't wish that on anyone.

[PETERTHEEATER]

13 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He explained that even transporting his son to the hospital required a specialised vehicle due to his size.

Toyota pickup?

[The Fugitive]

Remember reading some time ago of the challenges faced by crematorium workers (not Thailand) with regard to the grossly overweight deceased. Apparently, burning fat leaks out of the cremation chamber, spilling across the floor thus creating a grease fire.