Husband's heart missing after Cyprus death

A British widow has expressed profound shock and distress after learning that her late husband's heart was removed during a post-mortem examination in Cyprus. Michael Graley, 76, a retired cemetery superintendent, died suddenly from a leg cramp while on holiday with his family in Paralimni. His wife, Yvonne, 73, was informed that a pathologist had conducted a post-mortem, but upon his body's return to the UK, it was discovered that no cause of death was listed on the certificate.

Officials in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, required a second post-mortem to determine the cause of death. Yvonne was reportedly told that Michael's heart had been removed, rendering a definitive cause of death impossible to ascertain. Cypriot police confirmed that the organ had been dispatched to a research facility, while the family expressed anger and demanded answers. The Rochdale Coroner's Office confirmed its investigation into the matter is ongoing.

This distressing situation echoes a similar case in 2024 where the family of Kaydell Brown, 38, reported that organs, including parts of her heart, were missing when her body was repatriated from Turkey after cosmetic surgery. These incidents highlight a pattern of concern regarding the handling of deceased individuals' organs during post-mortem examinations abroad and their subsequent repatriation.