Nepal: Body of killed Australian saved from cremation
The body of an Australian tourist killed in a road accident in a remote area of Nepal has been saved from cremation and will be returned to Melbourne for burial…thanks to a helicopter dash by a Chabad rabbi.J-Wire understands that the 32-yr-old woman died when a tourist bus plunged off a bridge into a river.
Rabbi Lifshitz told J-Wire her name was Marina Muchnik.
Chabad Katmandu had been unable to avoid the cremation of a 22-yr-old Jewish man from London who died in Nepal two months ago but on this occasion Rabbi Chezki Lifshitz travelled by helicopter to rescue the woman’s body from the funeral pyre.
Rabbi Lifshitz told J-Wire: “When I heard the news, I hired a helicopter to take me to the village which although it is only 170 kms from Katmnadhu it woud take at least 7-8 hours to reach the village. I had to get there quickly to be able to bring the body back.
She was on a bus which plunged off a bridge. I hear various reports as to the height of the bridge but I am told it was at least 25m high.
There were 22 passengers on the bus and 19 are still missing.”
Rabbi Lifshitz brought the body back to Kathmandu by jeep.
Rabbi Lifshitz said that he paid for the helicopter personally.
Rebbitzin Chani Lifshitz added: “We initiated a further search for her baggage which has now been located and we will be able to send all her personal belongings including photographs back to Melbourne where the funeral is expected to take place on Sunday.
