Dying abroad can come with hefty price tag

Families coping with the grief of a relative dying overseas often find themselves dealing with the unexpected consequence of paying thousands of dollars to bring their bodies home.

The recent deaths in Hawke’s Bay of Indian-born Hemin Limbachiya and French tourist Pierre Paludet have highlighted the plight of families, facing typical costs of $10,000 to $15,000.

Prashin Kumar, a friend of Limbachiya’s widow Tanvi Bhavsar, said coming up with such a sum almost instantly was a challenge. ‘‘We have lots of travel costs we had obviously not planned or prepared for.’’

Funeral Directors’ Association of New Zealand chief executive Katrina Shanks said: ‘‘It’s not cheap at all.

‘‘All bodies that are transferred by air have to be embalmed. They have to be hermetically sealed to be able to fly.’’

Bodies can be transported in a metal-lined casket – costing $500 to $700 – or in a bio-sealed aluminium bag, at about $300.

Airlines charge at a flat rate per kilogram, based on the weight of the casket or bag, and the body itself.

Shanks said a recent repatriation of remains from Canada cost about $10,000. In another case, human remains needed to be sent to Japan, at a cost of about $15,000.

Bhavsar and her family set up a Givealittle page, saying they faced bills of ‘‘close to $20,000’’ to get her husband’s body back to India.

By yesterday afternoon, the page had raised $23,116, the day after Limbachiya’s body arrived in his hometown.

‘‘Hemin’s loss, yes, it’s a big one, but the real grief will actually hit [Bhavsar] if she doesn’t have her finances right,’’ Kumar said.

Police said yesterday that Paludet’s family had been advised of the finding of his body, and arrangements would be made to return it to them in France.

Between 2015 and 2016, 539 dead bodies arrived in New Zealand, and 199 were sent overseas.

One funeral director said higher expenses often involved a funeral service and body viewings in New Zealand before the remains were flown home.

When bodies were being returned to New Zealand, a funeral director could charge up to $1000 to pick up the body from the airport, carry out any necessary mortuary work, and prepare the body for the family to take.

A lot of paperwork was also involved, as well as Customs clearance fees of about $200.

Travel insurance can help when a policy-holder dies overseas. Southern Cross will pay up to $15,000 for repatriation, offshore funeral expenses and flying a family member out to assist with arrangements.