Death Overseas

By Jackie O’Neill

On October 12, 2002, Bali raised our consciousness regarding the horror of returning human remains or ashes to Australia. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Canberra, confirms that unfortunately nearly 600 Australian travellers die overseas annually, typically through illness or accident. Consular staff offer support at such a time. To assist repatriation, the Consular Service can:

• help with translations
• provide names of local funeral directors
• ensure the local funeral director is aware of Australian regulations
• advise on the cost of local burial, local cremation or return of remains to Australia
• advise on the cost of transporting any personal property back to Australia

They will not:

• pay burial or cremation expenses
• pay for the return of the remains to Australia

So, if you or a loved one travels abroad, insurance is a high priority. On top of travel insurance to cover the costs of hospitalisation and medical treatment while overseas, DFAT recommends people ensure their policies also cover costs incurred as a result of death. If someone dies overseas, the family make the funeral arrangements and pay the hefty fees involved, just as they would in Australia.
Costs to repatriate a body may be up to $20 000.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends travellers seek possible reciprocal health care arrangements between their country of residence and their destination country, and obtain special travellers’ health insurance for countries where medical care is expensive or not readily available. “This health insurance should include coverage for changes to itinerary, emergency repatriation for health reasons, hospitalisation, medical care in case of illness or accident and repatriation of the body in case of death.”

Most insurance companies now require travellers to notify them if they plan to be, or have been, admitted to a hospital for treatment in a defined time-frame preceding departure.

Travel Insurance

Though travel agents offer insurance (generally through a broker), some insurance representatives warn that a travel company’s expertise is in travel, and tourists should deal direct with a travel insurance specialist. Their rates are often more competitive than those offered by a travel agent.

Premiums are determined by the insured’s age, destination and duration of travel, with a number of countries (eg US currently) being restricted. Other exclusions include:

• suicide
  
• “…any medical…problem…prescribed medication or advice...in the thirty days before the date the certificate was issued … that may lead to a claim ...”
  
• the insured participating in:
  - A commotion or riot, acts maliciously
  - Races (except on foot)
  - Mountaineering or rock climbing using support ropes or taking part in professional sporting activities
  - Motorcycling in excess of 50 km
  
• the insured being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  
• deaths due to acts or threats of terrorism
  

Other traps preventing payment to an estate could include one of the travelling parties altering their itinerary (due to a death). Certainly, whatever the travel insurance, take the advice of DFAT and closely examine the fine print!

Repatriation

The next-of-kin usually instigates funeral plans. Should your partner or friend die overseas, then to make the necessary arrangements, the following particulars of the deceased are needed:

• full name
  
• date of birth
  
• passport number (where and when it was issued)
  
• next-of-kin
  
• if he/she was suffering from any communicable illness
  
• full travel insurance details: it is advisable to carry both the insurance policy identity card, as proof of insurance, and a claim form.
  

Following a death overseas, an ambulance will carry the body to a hospital and the local embassy will be contacted. Consular authorities will deal with the legalities and liaise with Australian funeral directors. Where Australia has no local representation, consular staff from other nations will act on their behalf. The procedure is reversed should a tourist or business visitor from overseas die on Australian soil.

Death within Australia

Only when the local registrar of births, deaths and marriages has been advised of the death, and the intention to remove the person from Australia, can the process start. A death certificate must be issued before a body leaves the State. A coroner’s report stating the cause of death is necessary. Sometimes an interim one is issued to allow removal of a body. The appropriate health authority must verify the body is free of infectious diseases.

Instruction on a number of issues must be sought from the Consul of the receiving country:

• the specific requirements for sealing and shipment to that country
  
• whether a permit is required for the deceased to travel
  
• appropriate paperwork to enable the receiving funeral director and local authorities to understand the process when the deceased arrives home
  

Some countries require a Cadaver Certificate before they will allow a body into the country for burial. The certificate, if issued, confirms that no epidemic of infectious disease occurred in the area for some three months preceding the death.

For air travel it is compulsory that the deceased be embalmed and encased in a hermetically sealed polypropylene bag. Refrigeration is unnecessary due to embalming, which maintains the condition of the deceased until arrival, and ensures the safety of staff who handles the casket at various stages of the journey.

On most occasions and to most countries of the world, the deceased person is placed in an inner metal container which is then sealed and placed in an outer casket, generally of wood. This casket is wrapped for its protection and safety during air transit and properly identified with the name of the consignee and the destination. Bodies travel with normal cargo.

Funeral directors may appoint a carrier to administer all paper work. Few companies specialise in the transfer of human remains. These companies will often pick up and deliver to eliminate the necessity for funeral directing staff and hearses driving to the airport. Crates are airfreighted the same day they arrive at the airport.

Charges for human remains between countries are normally exorbitant.
Crates can be very heavy, with fees calculated on a per kilo basis. Time for delivery depends on country of destination. To New Zealand for example, it is generally within one day. For the Middle East, roughly three days are necessary to prepare the essential documentation and collect confirmations from the other end. Most airlines handle human remains, though Australian carriers tend to stick with major airlines – providing backup resources in all eventualities.

Conclusions

Reportedly, many people who have resided in Australia for up to 30 years are still repatriated to the family plot in
‘the old country’. Cumulatively, this results in hundreds
of bodies crossing Australian borders annually. Families
frequently wish to accompany the deceased, but at short notice it is not always easy to book the family together on the same flight.

Death is always difficult, but such an experience on
foreign shores could devastate family or friends. To ease this burden, make sure you have adequate insurance.

Hearse photos courtesy of Allen Matthews Funerals, North Ryde.