Morbid Curiosity - What to Do with a Human Cadaver ?

[Strait Shooter]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Do you have a cat?

Good one.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Just not worth it. I imagine the smell is on par with a third world prison.

I have experienced a week old corpse that was bloated from being in a jungle river. I have also been around a third world prison. The smells are not even close to comparison. There is absolutely nothing to compare to how revolting the smell of a body can be.

I agree with the advice given to document everything in detail.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Japanese, relatives/friends of the deceased, use large chopsticks to pick out the bones immediately after cremation. The bones are placed in order, starting from the feet to the skull.

With the Missus (Thailand) I got to do something similar, except by hand. and not in any order - albeit Cremation remains identifiable enough to have had a stab at re-assembly .....not as gruesome as it sounds, and indeed quite a positive experiance.....

Chopsticks? I'd still be there

[webejammin]

This is a question for a licenced captian I think ? Any out there ?

[SaucySailoress]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

I'd just set off the EPIRB and let whoever shows up deal with the body.

This is a very good point - technology is way more advanced now than when traditions started; we have internet and digital cameras now which facilitate communication most of the time; so I guess it would be as well to notify authorities before burying a body.

I am sure those authorities would either approve an instant burial at sea, or arrange to have the body collected if they suspect foul play; since there must surely be health code reasons for not keeping a decaying body on board.

Besides, the case of the Ozzie guy convicted for murdering his wife at sea last year has changed the odds on how easy it is to dispose of a body without getting caught, so it's probably just as well to notify authorities first....

[enovillo]

So many replies! Looks like I'm going to have to do some research. My first preference would be to dump the corpse overboard (that's exactly what both my wife and I would want done if we passed away on board), but the paper work might be substantial. Add grief in the mix and the situation goes beyond what one is willing to tolerate.

[Alecadi]

Originally Posted by enovillo

So many replies! Looks like I'm going to have to do some research. My first preference would be to dump the corpse overboard (that's exactly what both my wife and I would want done if we passed away on board), but the paper work might be substantial. Add grief in the mix and the situation goes beyond what one is willing to tolerate.

And please let us know what happened and how you dealt with it. That will be useful for everybody and worth a sticky . I'll put it in my check list even.
Remarks: Please try not to die both at the same time, there will be a problem to put both corpses overboard and more important we will have no feed back at all.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by enovillo

... Add grief in the mix and the situation goes beyond what one is willing to tolerate.

There's always suicide, though I wouldn't recommend it over pain tolerance threshold expansion.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by tgzzzz

Who'll take your watch?

Dunno.... whoever finds the boat I guess... its only a cheap one so....

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by webejammin

This is a question for a licenced captian I think ? Any out there ?

I provided my answer earlier; there's no particular regulation I'm aware of beyond Title 46 Part 28 which discusses marine casualties.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...2001&TYPE=TEXT

Subsequent reports must contain
sufficient information to identify the casualty and any new or corrected
casualty data.
(c) Each report of casualty must include the following information:
(1) The name and address of the vessel owner and vessel operator, if
different than the vessel owner;
(2) The name and address of the underwriter of primary insurance for
the vessel;
(3) The name, registry number, call sign, gross tonnage, year of
build, length, and hull material of the vessel;
(4) The date, location, primary cause, and nature of the casualty;
(5) The specific fishery, intended catch, and length of fishery
opening when applicable;
(6) The date that the casualty was reported to the underwriter of
primary insurance for the vessel, or to an organization acceptable to
the Commandant;
(7) The activity of the vessel at the time of the casualty;
(8) The weather conditions at the time of the casualty, if the
weather caused or contributed to the cause of the casualty;
(9) The damages to or by the vessel, its apparel, gear, or cargo;
(10) The monetary amounts paid for damages;
(11) The name, birth date, social security number, address, job
title, length of disability, activity at the time of injury, type of
injury, and medical treatment required for each individual incapacitated
for more than 72 hours, or deceased as a result of the casualty;
(12) The name, registry number, and call sign of every other vessel
involved in the casualty; and
(13) The monetary amount paid for an injury or a death.

[boasun]

Originally Posted by Loquat

friends help you move... real friends help you move the body!

No, Real friends bring a shovel

[boasun]

Rebel Heart forgot to add the forms that the USCG requires us to carry and fill out forms if the victim requires more than First Aid or had died. But haven't seen anything on were to stuff, stow, or hide the body. But we always assumed if you don't have a body bag, well wrapped in plastic bags, saran wrap or what ever is available and placed (I was going to say stuffed) in the cooler.
Did that on one ship and the pantry stewards didn't want to go into that cooler. I guess they were afraid that dude would come back alive as a ghost or a zombie. Boo!

[Aussiesuede]

Lower the dink, bag the body, secure it to the dink, and tow it behind ya.

[webejammin]

In the North Pacific towing a dingy is dangerous because it can get too much water in it and become a sea anchor quickly. Our freezer might hold a hand or some other small body part but no body not even in the frig with our food. There's a Coast Guard station about 200 ft from our moorage and I'll go ask these questions .

[sarafina]

... I heard tell that tarragon is a good choice....