An Australian woman has described her distress after discovering that a funeral company mishandled her mother's body. Nicole Appleton told the ABC's Four Corners program that her mother, Michelle, who died of cancer at age 42, had left detailed instructions for her funeral, including requests for female-only handlers and specific grooming. However, a male worker arrived in the middle of the night to collect the body, contrary to her wishes.
When Ms Appleton requested a final viewing, she was told the body was in too poor a condition. She then transferred care to another funeral home, whose workers found her mother 'jammed into a coffin that was way too small', with clothes thrown on top, hair unkempt, and saliva on her face. 'There was just so much stuff not right,' she said.
The Four Corners investigation also revealed other disturbing practices, including doctors identifying bodies in public car parks. Footage showed a doctor exiting a clinic, unzipping a body bag in a parked van, and identifying the deceased before walking away. This practice stems from a New South Wales government requirement for doctors to identify bodies, which funeral homes say adds costs passed on to grieving families.
Another family, Gavin and Ali Stroud, reported being billed over $4,500 above their agreed budget for their son's funeral. Debt collectors pursued them, and Mrs Stroud paid the extra amount to avoid being seen as not covering her son's funeral costs. The investigation highlighted that some large for-profit operators charge vastly different prices under various brands but prepare bodies at the same facility.
