Burial at Sea gone bad

Perhaps a viking funeral next time?


http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/8292846/


<h1 class="story-headline">Burial at sea botched when Hickory man's body resurfaces</h1>

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Authorities suspected foul play when the body of a North Carolina man surfaced near a South Florida beach.

Turns out 48-year-old Scott Lasky died from Lou Gehrigs Disease on Sept. 8. A fisherman spotted the body about 4 miles offshore in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday after his burial at sea went awry.

Broward County deputies solved the mystery after finding Laskys obituary. Authorities said his family placed his body on dry ice, loaded him in a van and drove from Hickory, N.C., to Florida to honor his dying wish. Family members boarded a boat and bid Lasky what they thought was their final goodbye until his body resurfaced.

Sea burials are legal, but certain rules must be followed. The body has to sink to the bottom rapidly and permanently.

I used to run inspected charter boats in Wrightsville Beach. Everyone now and then someone would call us to spread ashes. I remember one particuarly blustery day we got out the inlet, pulled it back and told them to give me a minute while I turned the boat into the wind. Had to wait a minute to let a couple particuarly steep swells go by. They started early and later that day I was hosing ashes off the deck. I thought that was bad, but...