FUNERAL workers refused to collect the body of a seven-year-old boy who had died from cancer for 20 hours after his parents were unable to pay the balance of €1,600 for their services.
Raúl died at 17.00 on Wednesday at home in Fuenlabrada, Madrid in accordance with his and his parents' wishes and the undertakers were called in, but they left without the child's body as the family was unable to pay up front.
Neighbours helped by arranging and wrapping the body and contacting the local council to ask for financial help, but even once this was guaranteed, the undertakers said they would not be able to attend until 09.00 the following morning.
In the end, the child was still in the family lounge until 13.00 on Thursday.
The undertakers said they had not broken the law, as bodies must be removed from their homes within 24 hours.
A local charity, as well as the council, paid part of the €1,600 and the undertakers agreed to waive the rest.
Friends and neighbours of the grieving family said they were appalled at how they had been treated, which they considered especially harsh as the deceased was a small child.
A MAN declared dead at his home in the province of Tarragona was on his way to the funeral parlour when he turned out to be alive, according to police sources.
A NEW child protection law named after a British musician living in Spain has been approved in Congress and is set to be signed off by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, June 8.
