Corpse Confusion: Mix-Up In Phuket Morgue

[george]

Corpse confusion: mix-up in Phuket morgue

PHUKET: -- Mourners at the funeral of a British man in Chalong were shocked to discover that the corpse handed over to them by staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital was not his, but that of an unidentified Westerner.

William John “Bill” Young, 61, of Ipswich, England, passed away in his sleep on Friday, September 3, a friend told the Gazette.

Friends of Mr Young, who was a well-known and experienced marine engineer living in Chalong, went to Vachira Phuket Hospital with his widow on Tuesday to retrieve the body for a funeral ceremony in Chalong, the friend said.

At the Vachira morgue, the group were taken to a body on a gurney in the reception area and told by staff there that it was Mr Young.

One friend of 20 years said that as they pulled the sheet back, “I was shocked to see my old friend looking so bad, even for a dead bloke. He looked unrecognizable – much thinner.”

Their suspicions were assuaged by Vachira staff, who assured them that the “unrecognizable” body on the gurney was indeed that of their friend.

Another cause for concern arose when a staff member gave them a bag said to contain Bill’s belongings. They were not his things, the friend said.

Saying they would find his belongings later, staff loaded “Bill” into a coffin. The remains were taken to Wat Lati Wanaram in Chalong for his scheduled funeral service.

After they arrived, the coffin lid was taken off for photographs. The mourners, immediately surprised by the condition and appearance of the body, began to question whether or not it really was that of their friend, Mr Young.

Many theories were put forward, but the prevailing sentiment was that the body was not that of Mr Young.

The family of Mr Young’s wife removed the bracelet on the body and discovered that it listed the identify of the deceased as “unknown”, with an estimated age of 35.

By that point, the monks were already chanting as the word spread that the body was not Mr Young’s.

The friend called Chalong police to report the incident.

Shortly thereafter they received a call from Vachira Hospital confirming their suspicions: they had been given the wrong body.

They were asked by Vachira to bring the body back to the mortuary, where they could “swap” it for the real remains of their departed friend.

The friend said, “Some people were angry and others were laughing. Bill would have said, ‘I’m not surprised, are you?’ – and we were not.”

The unidentified body was loaded into a private vehicle and taken back to Vachira Hospital, where hospital staff apologized wholeheartedly for the mix-up, the friend said.

Dr Weerawat Yorsaengrat, deputy director of Vachira Phuket Hospital told the Gazette, “We admitted it was our mistake and rushed to prepare the body [Mr Young’s] for them to pick up before nightfall. In Thai culture it’s considered bad to take a body out at night."

“His wife came to pick up the body. She understood the mistake and even thanked us for hurrying to send the body out. Vachira Hospital apologizes to the family for this mistake,” Dr Weerawat said.

After retrieving the correct body, friends and family of Mr Young took his remains to the temple, where the cremation ceremony took place Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Young arrived on Phuket in 1991, working with a Norwegian tour boat company. He was well-known in Chalong, where he was often consulted for his expertise in marine engineering.

He is survived by his wife of five years, his friend said.

In response to questions about the unidentified body, Dr Weerawat told the Gazette that such mix-ups most often occur in cases when unidentified bodies are brought to the hospital by police.

It is normal for the Vachira morgue to house the remains of at least one unidentified Caucasian foreigner, he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-09-10

[Boater]

ok , and who is the other 35 year old westerner? , i havent seen any reports in the papers?

[Arjay]

@@ =0. TIT Amazing Thailand!

[Colabamumbai]

And is that after they have taken his personal effects???

[Travelish]

He passed away in his sleep , very strange....here in Thailand

[asiawatcher]

Its a good thing they just didn't send the body up the chimney first.

[Xonax]

He passed away in his sleep , very strange....here in Thailand

Yeah. Normally they drop from buildings or get killed in traffic og in a robbery.

[Boss]

In response to questions about the unidentified body, Dr Weerawat told the Gazette that such mix-ups most often occur in cases when unidentified bodies are brought to the hospital by police.

It is normal for the Vachira morgue to house the remains of at least one unidentified Caucasian foreigner, he said.

Peak competence we have in this country - bvadr..

[earthpig]

"In Thai culture it’s considered bad to take a body out at night."

funny that, ive seen more than a few bodies taken out at night in thailand.

[tombkk]

He passed away in his sleep , very strange....here in Thailand

Not funny. Two of my farang friends died in their sleep in Thailand. I hope it's also the way I'll go one day.

[tombkk]

In response to questions about the unidentified body, Dr Weerawat told the Gazette that such mix-ups most often occur in cases when unidentified bodies are brought to the hospital by police.

It is normal for the Vachira morgue to house the remains of at least one unidentified Caucasian foreigner, he said.

Peak competence we have in this country - bvadr..

Unfortunately, I have to agree with you that they seem to think it is normal that such mix-ups occur. "mai pen rai" at its worst.

[katana]

There's also a report here from someone at the funeral.

[Changian]

It is normal for the Vachira morgue to house the remains of at least one unidentified Caucasian foreigner, he said.

Just in case anyone wants to swap the one they are given.

[tomyummer]

"Their suspicions were assuaged by Vachira staff, who assured them that the “unrecognizable” body on the gurney was indeed that of their friend."

Typical here. Rather than do the work and search for the real body and double check, they always insist they're right and you're mistaken. Even when the evidence is in hand..er...on the wrist.

Surprised anyone?

[ijwelch]

It is normal for the Vachira morgue to house the remains of at least one unidentified Caucasian foreigner, he said.

Just in case anyone wants to swap the one they are given.

Yeah, like 'Sorry, this one's a bit off. Have you got a fresh one?'

[animatic]

Poor man died in his sleep in bed,

and yet there was a bag of personal effects? Should have been a clue.

I guess the people who got the body at the hospital have little experience with the dead, because they let the hospital staff talk them into taking a body they didn't recognize.

Still ultimately it is the hospitals fault. Yeah right, all farangs look the same.

And the hospital should have immediately sent out a vehicle to bring the body back.

Not even sure it's legal to let a civilian vehicle transport a body.

We were told we had to pay 5,000 baht to move a friend 10km from hospital to Wat,

because it had to be an 'official ambulance', and most drivers don't like driving bodies,

because they fear the spirits of those the monks haven't sent on their way yet.

Oh well, at least Bill got sent off ok.

Edited September 11, 2010 by animatic

[Thaddeus]

RIP fella.

Edited September 11, 2010 by Thaddeus

[siampolee]

Well at least I suppose the doctor and hospital staff ended up, ''keeping a stiff upper lip.''

[TAWP]

He passed away in his sleep , very strange....here in Thailand

Not funny. Two of my farang friends died in their sleep in Thailand. I hope it's also the way I'll go one day.

Or:

I want to die like my grandpa, peacefully asleep, not like has passengers, screaming in terror.

[zthyadat]

"Their suspicions were assuaged by Vachira staff, who assured them that the "unrecognizable" body on the gurney was indeed that of their friend."

Typical here. Rather than do the work and search for the real body and double check, they always insist they're right and you're mistaken. Even when the evidence is in hand..er...on the wrist.

Surprised anyone?

And when the mistake was acknowledged, it was the responsibility of the family to return the wrong body and pick up the right one. And shouldn't the hospital have better cadaver carrying equipment than the family? With a funeral already in full swing and a load of shocked mourners who took valuable time off to be there, why wouldn't they send a vehicle out there with the right corpse and swap. They created the problem and it would be the solution that would most quickly address the inconvenience caused by their incompetence.

The sheer arrogance of insisting it was the right corpse in the face of people who actually knew the person is mind boggling. There seems to be no hesitation to condescend to foreign "idiots" without pausing to consider that perhaps they might have made a mistake. Oh well, as long as short-term face is maintained, that is the main thing.

[TAWP]

Insisting that something is like it should when it is not is very common here...everything to avoid losing face.