Firm sued over decomposing body

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A teenager is suing a funeral company after her family visited her father's decomposing body.

Ria Boyington, 16, from Nottingham said she smelt an "appalling stench" when she went to see her father John at Glenbrook Funerals Limited in Aspley.

She is now taking action against the firm as she says the body was left without refrigeration for three days.

Her lawyer said she had been traumatised by the incident. No-one from the firm was available to comment.

Ria's father, John Boyington, died on 29 September 2006 of a heart attack.

His body was laid out on 6 October and Miss Boyington went to visit the body with other family members three days later.

They described him as looking like an alien and looking absolutely terrible and bloated Ria Boyington

The 16-year-old said she entered the reception area of the funeral home and was immediately met by "an appalling stench".

She was advised by a member of staff not to view the body but her brother Jamie, 18, did.

"My brother and several others went in and they were speechless, they couldn't describe the way my dad was looking.

"They described him as looking like an alien and looking absolutely terrible and bloated. I feel so appalled on behalf of them."

Mother Susan Paul said the funeral parlour had acknowledged that the body was left out without refrigeration but said the family had not received an apology.

Lisa Preece, who is representing the teenager, said: "Ria was left severely traumatised by her experience and as a result has suffered a severe psychological reaction which has resulted in physical as well as psychological symptoms.

"She is receiving on-going counselling and is suffering with headaches, weight loss and sleeplessness."