British tourists trigger health alert in Turkey after wading into the sea to sprinkle the ashes of their dead relative at holiday spot he loved

• The tourists brought the ashes to Turkey to scatter them at a favourite spot
• Do you know the family? Contact james.reynolds@mailonline.co.uk

British tourists triggered a health alert in Turkey after wading into the sea to scatter the ashes of a deceased relative and causing 'panic' among beachgoers.

Health authorities in Marmaris, on the southern Aegean Coast, began a hasty investigation and took water samples following backlash from concerned locals about Monday's ceremony.

Swimmers warned that the spreading of ashes in popular waters near the beach could endanger health, prompting an urgent response from the regional District Health Directorate.

The group of tourists had reportedly travelled with the intent of sprinkling the ashes at the Uzunyalı beach, a favoured spot of a late family member, in touching tribute.

Cremation is not legal in Turkey and restrictions are in place to limit bringing ashes into the country.

The water tests arranged by local authorities were not directly related, and there is no immediate health risk posed by ashes in the sea. 

However, restrictions on scattering ashes in Turkey have caused significant upset for travellers in the past.

While some airlines do allow passengers to take ashes to Turkey in carry-on luggage, there remain restrictions in place for what people can do with them after landing.

Cremation is not legal in Turkey and there are no cremation facilities.

When a British person dies in Turkey, the British government advises, finding a local funeral director to arrange a burial, who 'will be able to explain the local process'.

Turkey is a Muslim country, and while it is permissible for non-Muslims to be buried in line with their own burial practices within the country, cremation is not allowed under Islamic law.

The bereaved may also arrange the repatriation of the body home.

In 2022, cultural sensitivities on the matter were felt when a Turkish man was accidentally cremated in a hospital in Hannover.

The family of Abdülkadir Sargın, a Turkish citizen, were shocked when - during funeral preparations - they discovered the person in the coffin was a complete stranger.

71-year-old Sargın had died from a brain hemorrhage at the MHH hospital in Hannover.

His body was to be transported to a funeral company for an Islamic burial, upon the family's request.

After the horror discovery, an intern at the hospital's morgue admitted to having made a mistake and mixing up the bodies, per the Turkish Daily Sabah newspaper. 

The family raised concerns about why the body had been cremated so soon after Sargın's death, and local police launched an investigation.