Cemetery workers accidentally break open man’s coffin during burial, grieving family claim

‘We were absolutely devastated with the thought he’s down there with his face exposed,’ wife says

Google street view image of Runcorn cemetery, in Cheshire. (Google)

A widow has claimed her husband’s face was left “exposed” after cemetery workers accidentally broke his coffin while burying him.

Mark Miles, 50, was buried at Runcorn Cemetery, in Cheshire on 27 August, after he died suddenly.

The grandfather’s relatives left the cemetery after his funeral, but when his wife Suzanne returned days later she was told by a witness that it had been damaged.

Ms Miles said the visitor claimed he saw workers dropping rocks from a digger while burying her husband and that he heard a loud cracking sound.

The witness allegedly saw the casket cracked lengthways and on its side when he looked inside the grave, the Liverpool Echo reports.

The man claimed a worker said that was what you got for “buying a cheap s***** coffin” as he continued to fill the grave in.

Ms Miles said the incident was made worse by the fact Mr Miles had been buried beside their son Adam, and that his face was left “exposed”.

She told the Liverpool Echo: “It had cracked all his coffin, and on his face and down his leg you could see the white covering.

“We were absolutely devastated with the thought he’s down there with his face exposed.”

She added that she was advised to get an exhumation certificate, which could take up to six weeks.

A Halton Council spokeswoman said: “The family have raised a number of issues with us which are all being investigated.

“Once this is completed we will be back in touch with the family.”