A man who died on holiday before his horrified family discovered his body had been returned to the UK without a heart was told by his GP he was ‘free to travel’ having been prescribed medication, an inquest opening heard.
Michael Graley, 76, was in Cyprus with his family last summer when he began complaining of leg cramp. The retired cemetery manager’s condition deteriorated and he was found unresponsive in the early hours of August 16.
Daughter Hayley called an ambulance and Michael was rushed to Amochostos General Hospital in Paralimni, Famagusta. He was pronounced dead by doctors shortly after arrival.
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Speaking to the Manchester Evening News earlier this year, Michael’s wife Yvonne said the family, from Oldham, told medics in Cyprus they didn’t want a post mortem to be carried out in the country.
She said she later got a call from Rochdale Coroners’ Court following an examination of her husband’s body. It was then that Yvonne was told Michael’s body had been returned to the UK without a heart. It meant a cause of death could not be determined.
According to local reports, Cypriot police said a post mortem was carried out in the country and that Michael’s heart was sent to a research centre for analysis.
Yvonne Graley and her daughter Hayley(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
“We need some answers and we need to know what was wrong with the heart,” Yvonne said. “I don’t know why he’s not here. I haven’t got a clue why he’s not here. He was a family man, he’d do anything for anyone, and me. I’m lost.
“It’s killing us. I’ve got to get some answers from somewhere.” Hayley added: “He was a man with a really big heart and now he hasn’t got one. We’ve had to have a funeral without it.”
An inquest into Michael’s death was opened on Thursday (March 12) by assistant coroner Matthew Cox. Police coroners officer Megan Seddon said: “His GP said he was free to travel. He was receiving treatment for a heart condition. He became unwell on holiday. His health deteriorated and he died on August 16.”
The court did not hear further details about Michael’s condition or the medication he was on. Following the hearing, Yvonne told the Manchester Evening News her husband had been told by doctors he had an elevated heart rate.
The inquest was adjourned until August 16.