LISTEN: Sailing accident brought more distress with Moray mortuary facilities
Maryan Whyte, who lost her husband Frank in an accident in Findhorn Bay, looks for more compassion in difficult circumstances with "fit for purpose" mortuary facilities.
A bereaved family is calling for checks on the condition of mortuaries across Scotland after their own "traumatic" experience in Moray.
Maryan Whyte said she was left extremely distressed by the state of Spynie Mortuary in Moray, where her husband Frank was taken after he died in a sailing accident earlier this year.
Mrs Whyte, from Forres, went to the mortuary with her two daughters to formally identify her partner. She describes the scene which awaited her:-
Efforts are under way to improve Spynie Mortuary, which is used by Police Scotland following unexplained or accidental deaths, but the Whytes say they do not want other families to experience what they endured.
Mrs Whyte said: "To think of my husband being in such a place has left me with such a desolate feeling"
"Families who are suffering in difficult and often tragic circumstances should be shown much more compassion than what we found to be the case in Moray"
Mr Whyte was killed in a freak boating accident on the Moray Firth in May. The 69-year-old was cruising off Findhorn Bay when the weather turned suddenly and a blast of wind overturned his yacht.
Following their experience, the family met with local councillors and representatives from Police Scotland and NHS Grampian to voice their distress.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said: "I admire their decision to campaign to have all mortuaries across Scotland checked to ensure they meet appropriate standards and I am taking this forward in the Scottish Parliament.''