Funeral Director Receives Body with Three Legs, University Found Guilty: 'Painful Mistake'

dessel, belgium - A funeral director in Dessel found a third leg attached to a body prepared for cremation, leading to a shocking discovery.

Unusual Discovery

A funeral director in Dessel made a bizarre discovery while preparing a body for cremation: a third leg was found attached to the deceased. The body was supplied by the Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy, and Research Center (ASTARC), a department of the University of Antwerp.

Responsibility and Reaction

Dries Funeral Services, the funeral director involved, reported the incident out of ethical considerations. The University of Antwerp acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to a human error in handling donated bodies for educational and research purposes.

Apology and Resolution

The University expressed regret for the mix-up and assured that measures would be taken to prevent such errors in the future. The incident was reported to the authorities, but it was concluded to be a case of human error and not subject to further investigation.

Increase in Donated Bodies

The Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy, and Research Center has seen a rise in the number of bodies donated for scientific purposes, with 116 bodies received in 2024 compared to 85 in 2022. The University aims to enhance precision in handling such donations to avoid future mistakes.