A funeral in Philadelphia took a scary turn when several pallbearers ended up falling into a grave.
The shocking scene unfolded on Friday (April 4), during the funeral of 66-year-old Benjamin Aviles at Greenmount Cemetery. Aviles, who died from heart complications late last month, was being laid to rest when disaster struck.
A video posted online captures the moment pallbearers were lowering his coffin into the ground, only for the wooden platform surrounding the grave to collapse suddenly. Screams erupted as several men descended roughly six feet into the hole.
One of them was Aviles’ grieving son, who ended up beneath the casket, his face buried in the mud.
“The casket lay on top of him, and he was out like a light with his face in the mud,” Aviles’ stepdaughter Maribelle Rodriguez told WPVI. “It was just a horrible incident that happened at a bad moment."
Watch the moment below:Several pallbearers suffered minor injuries, but it was the emotional trauma of what was supposed to be a respectful farewell that left the family reeling.
Now, relatives are blaming both the cemetery and the Rodriguez Funeral Home, which is not affiliated with the family, for the dangerous burial conditions that led to the disaster.
“The whole thing was trembling,” Rodriguez said. “It was wobbly, the wood was all wet and soaked.”
She’s calling for an apology and a refund from those responsible. “There should be some reimbursement, being that the ceremony was interrupted; nothing was done properly,” she said.
Benjamin was born in Lares, Puerto Rico, before making the move to North Philadelphia. His obituary read: "A man of many talents, Benji had a natural gift for working on cars. Entirely self-taught, there wasn’t a car problem he couldn’t fix.
"He also enjoyed fishing, traveling with his beloved wife, and cheering on his favorite sports - especially boxing and football," the obituary continued. "Benji was a devoted husband, a loving father to his son, a caring father figure to his stepdaughters, a treasured grandfather to his four grandchildren, and a dear friend to many.
"He was a man of great integrity, strength, and endless love for his family. His kindness, generosity, and gentle spirit touched everyone who knew him.
"Though his absence leaves a void, his memory will forever live on in the stories we share and the love he gave so freely," it concluded.