British Man Accuses Airport Security of Confiscating Ashes
Joe Cortez April 11, 2016
Flyer claims spouse’s remains were nearly seized because he was not recognized as next of kin
A British flyer is speaking out about his security checkpoint experience, claiming screeners discriminated against him and attempted to seize his husband’s ashes. In an account told to Buzzfeed News, 38-year-old Marco Bulmen-Rizzi claims the cremated remains of his spouse were almost removed from him at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) because the security guards did not recognize him as the legal next of kin.
Bulmen-Rizzi claims the incident took place on January 22, 2016. After losing husband David Bulmer-Rizzi in an accident during their Australian honeymoon, the flyer was attempting to return home with cremated remains. When passing through HKG, Bulmer-Rizzi had clear security screening before continuing to the United Kingdom. However, when going through with the cremated remains, he was stopped by security personnel.
According to his account, a security guard at the airport demanded to know what was inside the container. When Bulmer-Rizzi explained it was his husband’s remains inside, he claims the guard attempted to seize the container.
“I felt like I was losing him again,” Bulmer-Rizzi told Buzzfeed News. “All I wanted was to be able to travel with David’s ashes on me so he wouldn’t have to travel back by himself.”
Bulmer-Rizzi says he appealed his case to a supervisor, presenting a letter from the funeral home confirming the remains and his late husband’s passport. The guards cited local laws that did not acknowledge same-sex marriage, which potentially negated the flyer’s claim of being the legal next of kin.
After inspecting the documents and hearing Bulmer-Rizzi’s plea, the supervisor allowed the flyer to continue with the remains. Now, he has filed a complaint against the airport security company and is calling for the governments of Australia and the U.K. to train foreign office staff on policies affecting same-sex couples.
In a statement to Buzzfeed, the company providing security services at HKG denied the situation took place. “We have conducted a thorough record check on the information provided but we did not come across the alleged case on the material date,” the statement read.
[Photos: Marco Bulmen-Rizzi, ABC]
Its a gay couple so the daily mail wouldn't touch it. They published a column a while go that said the guy from Boyzone died as a punishment because he was gay.
It is tragic if it happened. However, are personal ashes transported no differently than any other hand luggage? I am kind of interested in that... With regards to @diburning's comments, the story after the jump details that neither Oz nor UK would issue a next of kin certificate. From the story, He said he asked the British authorities to provide him instead with documentation explaining his next-of-kin status so that he could travel home unhindered, but the Foreign Office did not do so.' That this story then happens, makes me wonder if it is just that. He is trying to punish them for not acting appropriately in Oz, by making up a story. I am not saying that he is, merely, that people have done more for less. Finally, Buzzfeed news? Really? I mean, this probably makes me doubt the story the most. As he is UK based, there are plenty of tabloids that love these stories. Why isn't this story in the Daily Mirror or the Daily Mail?
"...calling for the governments of Australia and the U.K. to train foreign office staff on policies affecting same-sex couples." What does Hong Kong have anything to do with the UK or Australia? Hong Kong has been independent since 1997. I highly doubt airport security is done via either of those countries.
he said…he said…end of non-story.