Local swimmers were not happy with the scattering (Picture: Turkish Media)
A group of British tourists at a Turkish beach sparked a health alert after scattering their deceased relative’s ashes in the ocean – sparking ‘panic’ among those on the shore.
Health authorities in Marmaris, Turkey, have reportedly taken water samples from the sea after the group scattered ashes in the waves.
Cremation is illegal in Turkey, and the country has strict restrictions on bringing ashes into the country.
But the group of tourists brought the ashes of their loved one, who reportedly died at sea, and scattered them at Uzunyali beach.
Photos showed the family standing in knee deep water and scattering his ashes as others looked on.
Local swimmers have still warned that spreading ashes in popular swimming waters could pose a risk to health.
The tourists spread their loved ones ashes at a beach in Marmaris (Picture: Shutterstock)
The group appeared to be wearing matching t-shirts (Picture: Turkish Media)
The water tests undertaken by health authorities were reportedly not related to the ashes spreading, and there remains no health risk from the ashes.
Turkey is a Muslim country, meaning cremation is not allowed under Islamic law – but those who die in Turkey and are not Muslim can be buried in line with their own practices at home.
As for those hoping to scatter their loved ones ashes in Turkey, airlines do allow passengers to bring ashes – but restrictions remain as to what you can do with them when you land.
One Brit wrote on the Sue Ryder bereavement support charity forum and spoke of how long it took to get permission to spread ashes in Turkey.
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They said: ‘My wife always loved Turkey from the first time we went there 40 years ago… so it was a no brainer where she would want to be at rest. Unfortunately it’s never that simple.
‘It took me nearly two years to get permissions set up with UK airport, airline, Turkish airport, Turkish Government, Turkish Local Council Officials, Main Mosque Representatives, Turkish Police, and Local Port Authorities.’
But other ash scatterings have gone wrong – in 2015, a man who was scattering his relative’s ashes in Cornwall was swept out to sea.
The 51-year-old was overwhelmed by a wave at Trebarwith Strand.
Conditions for the search were ‘unfavourable with gale force winds and rough seas,’ according to Falmouth Coastguard watch manager, Neil Oliver.
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