The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across the globe, impacting Europe, America, and Africa, leaving no region unaffected.
There has been significant outcry among many Kenyans regarding the treatment of a man from Siaya, who was laid to rest under deplorable conditions.
In the heart of New York, the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis in the United States, a tragic incident occurred at a local funeral home. A dedicated employee of the New York Funeral & Cremation Service, Michael Jones, lost his life last week due to an unfortunate accident during the cremation process.
Michael, a 48-year-old worker, had been tirelessly serving for sixteen consecutive hours to handle the surge in deceased individuals resulting from the high number of COVID-19 cases. Exhausted, he decided to take a much-needed nap on a stretcher.
During his slumber, another employee mistakenly identified Michael as the deceased body of a 52-year-old individual who had passed away due to respiratory issues. Unaware of the mix-up, they transferred him to the crematory.
Tragically, by the time the mistake was realized, it was too late. Michael had already been exposed to extreme temperatures ranging between 1400 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, and his body had been reduced to ashes.
Jenna Anderson, a coworker who was present at the time, recalls hearing Michael’s screams of agony as the crematory was activated. The horrifying realization of the error dawned upon them, but despite their efforts to shut down the heating system, it was too late to save him.
According to Ms. Anderson, the young coworker responsible for the accident was a new employee who had neglected to verify the identification tag to ensure he had the correct body.
The local authorities have initiated an investigation to ascertain the precise circumstances surrounding Michael Jones’s tragic demise. The possibility of pressing criminal charges against the employee who caused this unfortunate incident has not been ruled out.
Criminal negligence causing death may be among the potential charges that could be brought against the young man involved in this devastating accident.
