Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Couple given son's organs by mistake

Gary Finn
Friday 24 December 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A COUPLE have won a pounds 50,000 out-of-court settlement after they were mistakenly given their dead son's organs in a bag by funeral directors.

Colin and Carole Raeburn, from Bexhill, East Sussex, thought they were unpacking their son Wayne's belongings when they were given the bag but found it actually contained his organs.

The funeral directors Mummery Ltd had been given the bag with Wayne's body after a post-mortem examination at The Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

Mr and Mrs Raeburn expected to find clothes and equipment belonging to Wayne but when Mrs Raeburn reached into the bag, she picked up one of his organs.

"I couldn't understand why the contents felt mushy and thought perhaps that the bag had got wet. I pulled an object which I thought would be Wayne's belt but when I looked at it, I realised it was an organ," she said.

Mrs Raeburn is devastated by the incident, according to her husband. He said: "I have never heard of this before and hope I never hear of it again. We want them to change their procedures and make sure it doesn't happen again to anyone else."

Mrs Raeburn now has regular psychiatric treatment, and will not eat meat or even walk near meat sections in supermarkets.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in