Losing a loved one is of the most painful experiences in life. It can be even more heart-wrenching when their remains are lost or misplaced, leaving family members feeling helpless and distraught.
This was the case for one man who lost his father’s ashes and was reunited with them by a sanitation worker who went above and beyond his duties.
Stan Blade, a musician from the UK, had intended to create a TikTok video of his final tour with the remains of his deceased father, Stephen Jewitt, who passed away in 2011, by taking them to all of their favorite spots at Southend Pier in Essex.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. When some friends convinced him to have a drink at a pub, leading to a prolonged drinking spree, as reported by South West News Service.
After consuming six cans of Stella and five pints of lager, the 39-year-old made his way home stumblingly.
@stanstoks Lost my dad’s ashes and step mums not happy ! #FindStansDad #stanstoks #stanblade #rip
However, he only became aware that he had lost the grocery bag containing the wooden box of ashes when his stepmother, Emma Hopkins, became extremely angry and demanded to know their whereabouts.
He searched frantically for the ashes but had no luck finding them. Upon his return without the remains, his furious stepmother exclaimed.
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“I’ve had those ashes for 12 years. I specifically instructed you not to take them to the seafront. All you care about is creating content for TikTok.”
How He Recovered the Ashes
Photo credit: Stan Blade | SWNS
In a twist of fate, Blade took to TikTok in a state of panic to request the public’s assistance in locating the ashes.
Fortunately, the loving son did not have to wait long as the Essex police contacted him to inform him that a garbage collector had found the ashes on top of a trash can.
“A bin man had handed them into the local police station, who called me after viewing it in the Echo,” he said. “When Essex police call you, you suddenly think, ‘uh oh, what’s this about.’
“The policeman said they had discovered I was looking for my dad’s ashes.” “A road sweeper had handed it to them after finding it placed on top of a bin on the seafront.” However, someone discovered the ashes without the shopping bag.
Expressing gratitude, Mr. Blade acknowledges the council worker who turned the item over to the police and all those who helped circulate the story in the Echo.
He also thanked those who helped to spread the message. Mr. Blade’s father, Stephen, passed away in 2011 at 60.
Blade expressed that his father possessed an excellent sense of humor. He would have been delighted that the publicity of his missing ashes had generated a story.
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“My father was very comical, and he would have thoroughly enjoyed the notion of me taking a roller coaster ride with his ashes by my side,” he explained to Metro UK.
“I simply wished to commemorate his memory as I had not visited my hometown in quite some time.”
Additionally, he stated that his stepmother had recuperated from the incident of the lost ashes. “My step-mum has calmed down now, and eventually, I think she will see the funny side,” he said.
He added, “My family and I are all very happy and grateful to get him back — and no more outings.”
