Footage showing a man working at a crematorium to transform a body into ashes has left many people scratching their heads, all wondering the same thing.
The mystery of what happens to us after we die has fascinated humans for centuries. Although we can’t speak to the experience of those who’ve passed, we do have a clear idea of what happens to our physical bodies afterward.
Some people choose burial, while others request cremation, with their ashes scattered in a place that holds special meaning to them.
The actual steps involved in cremation are a bit of a mystery to those outside the industry, which might explain why footage showing the cremation process captured so much attention after it was shared on Reddit.
Posted with the caption ‘Removing a body from the crematorium’, the video shows a staff member carefully removing ashes from the furnace and transferring them into a funnel-like device, which then deposits the ashes into a small bag.
Once filled, the bag is placed in a small box, complete with an identifying label attached.
The Cremation Society in the UK explains further that nameplates on coffins are checked by staff to confirm they have the correct identity before cremation begins.
While the video offers a rare peek into the cremation process, viewers weren’t just curious about the details of cremation itself. Many focused on what the operator was wearing during his duties.
In the clip, the man carefully handling the remains is dressed sharply in a blue suit, a clean white shirt, and a tie. Strikingly, he wears no mask or gloves.
The sight of a smartly dressed man, looking as if he could be heading to a business meeting or formal event, performing this task left viewers puzzled.
Reacting to the clip on Reddit, one person commented: “Put on a dust mask! And gloves!”
Another chimed in: “Doesn’t seem like something you should be doing in your Sunday best clothes.”
“Snappy suit but no…Mask and gloves?,” wrote a third commenter.
Though it might seem strange, The Cremation Society notes that cremation often takes place ‘shortly after the cremation service’, suggesting that crematorium staff may dress professionally in case they encounter the deceased person’s family.
Other videos from crematoriums also show operators in suits, hinting that formal attire may be the standard in some places.
