'Dangerously high' toxins in Air India crash bodies repatriated to UK: Report

Mortuary workers in London were exposed to “dangerously high” levels of toxic substances when handling bodies repatriated to the UK after the crash of a London-bound Air India plane in Ahmedabad, a senior coroner has said.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Professor Fiona Wilcox, presiding over the inquests into the deaths of the 53 British nationals on board the Boeing 787 which crashed on June 12, released a ‘Prevention of future deaths report’ on Tuesday to highlight that bodies repatriated to London's Westminster Public Mortuary had high concentrations of formalin. The substance has toxic effects at high levels and can cause severe respiratory irritation.

“No inquests have yet been heard. This report is based upon my duty under Regulation 28 being engaged in respect of the hazard presented to all mortuary users from the method in which bodies of deceased persons being repatriated to the UK were preserved and returned," states Dr Wilcox in her report addressed to UK government authorities.