Posted on 05/30/2006 4:36:09 PM PDT by robowombat
Pacemaker Blamed As Explosion Inside Coffin Halts Cremation Posted on Saturday, May 27 @ 21:57:06 CDT
A MINOR explosion in a coffin rocked Carlisle’s crematorium after a funeral service yesterday afternoon. The cause is still being investigated – but it is believed to have been the result of a pacemaker being left inside a body.
It is understood that members of the family involved have been informed of what happened.
No-one was hurt in the incident and there was no disruption to funeral services or cremations.
The crematorium, in Dalston Road, is operated by the city council’s bereavement services department. It is the only one in north Cumbria.
A council spokesperson said: “There was a minor explosion within the crematorium’s cremator yesterday afternoon.
“The machinery continued to operate normally and there was no lasting damage.
“Staff members overseeing the machinery were unharmed and are investigating the possible cause.
“Cremations continued as planned and there were no disruptions to services.”
It is understood that prior to cremations, it is the responsibility of the family and funeral director to ensure that nothing is within a coffin which may cause an explosion.
In this instance, it is believed the go-ahead for the cremation had been given by two doctors.
Pacemakers should be removed before cremation.
This could be a very fun thread.
Pacemakers explode?
Talk about going out with a bang!
"This could be a very fun thread."
Or a heart-breaking one!
;)
I'm glad to see that the deceased was unhurt.
Oh lord, I hope the victim wasn't hurt too badly!
Sounds like insurgents again. This is a quagmire.
Batteries don't like fire.
If they did, a well-placed trocar would have found this pacemaker.
the city council’s bereavement services department.
????
Well you know it's written,
"Blessed are the pacemakers,
for they are the image of the cremator."
No but the lithium batteries do.
It came up that my father has a pacer, and he proceeded to tell me he's removed many of them before cremation....his place started doing that after one (taking his word for it) blew the door off the "oven" and trashed the surroundings.
it is the responsibility of the family and funeral director to ensure that nothing is within a coffin which may cause an explosion.
Probably some obscure federal law eh.
Since no one else has said it yet; this is a classic example of going out with a bang.
I'd hate to be the one that had to clean up that mess.
"it is the responsibility of the family and funeral director to ensure that nothing is within a coffin which may cause an explosion."
Good thing the deceased didn't take multiple hits of viagra before he passed away..
And, most importantly, do they explode only after you're dead?
The coffin took a lickin' while the pacemaker was still tickin'.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.