Decomposing nightmare

The death of a family member is never easy, but for one Newcastle family, the treatment of one of its deceased turned into a harrowing nightmare.

Police sources explained the family had used the services of a funeral parlour in town.

The body of the deceased had been placed in the care of the funeral parlour for storage purposes, before the funeral service the following week.

However, when the family returned, the sight that greeted them was not one they had expected.

“The body had not been placed in the parlour’s fridge,” explained the police source.

The result was a decomposing cadaver that has left the family and police in shock.

“It’s amazing that the staff of the funeral parlour did not notice the smell, or even bother to check that the body had been placed away,” said the source.

An inquest into the matter has been opened, and police have requested any community members with information regarding this matter, or linked cases to come forward.