In what might be the worst case of mistaken identity (or would it be combined identity?), the ashes of two different people were mixed together in Diamond Hill Crematorium earlier this year.
The incident came to light after the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department launched an investigation into the literal mix-up. According to Apple Daily, the incinerator used by the crematorium comprises an upper and lower compartment. Bodies are placed into the top compartment for around 70 minutes then moved to the lower compartment, where they are burned in lower temperatures for another hour. A second corpse is then moved into the upper compartment, maintaining a lethal efficiency.
Unfortunately, it appears that a “mechanical error” on April 22nd led to the contents of both compartments getting mixed together. The crematorium has apologized to both of the families affected, and given them the allegedly “separated” remains. How exactly they could distinguish one person’s ashes from another, let alone separate the distinct particles, remains to be seen.
The involved incinerator will now only process one body at a time, i-Cable reports, sacrificing efficiency for filial piety.
In 2007, the Prince of Wales Hospital accidentally cremated an 88-year-old man’s body instead of another, unrelated 77-year-old man. Unsurprisingly, the hospital’s chief executive later admitted that staff hadn’t “taken every step” to confirm the deceased’s man’s identity before cremating him, SCMP reports.
Prior to that, another accidental cremation — this time of a 90-year-old man — in 2006 led to a government probe. A report published by the investigative committee suggested more identification procedures, internal audits, and better staff training.
