スター・ウォーズファンの宇宙葬ASHES IN SPACE
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管理番号
KNM0180
投稿日
2024.05.24
動画の長さ
00分00秒
カテゴリー
びっくり
説明
Star Wars superfan's ashes were launched into SPACE by his wife so he could spend eternity in a 'galaxy far, far away'.
Helen Ambler followed hubby Johny Ambler's dying wishes and sent his remains into the stratosphere to take his end-of-life celebration to new heights - blasting him more than 120,000ft.
Mesmerising footage shows the capsule take to the skies via a specialist stratospheric balloon from Aura Flights HQ in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on March 4th.
The clip shows the vessel, bearing a snap of the 49-year-old mobile caretaker, glide through and above the clouds during its 90-minute ascent providing a breathtaking view of Earth below.
As it reaches 'scatter altitude' the capsule releases and the dad-of-two's ashes can be seen streaming into the sky below.
Watching the poignant footage back was 'mind blowing' for information governance officer Helen who said she wished avid Liverpool FC fan Johny, who died of bowel cancer, had got to see it.
Helen, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, said: "There's not many women who can say they've launched their husband into space.
"The footage is amazing. I'm amazed it's even possible, it just blows your mind.
"It was very emotional watching him up there, I couldn't watch it without crying. They've done a brilliant job, I'm so pleased with it.
"I just wish he could see it, he'd have been absolutely buzzing about it."
Johny, who's dad to Freddie Ambler, 16, and 13-year-old Fern Ambler, was diagnosed in January 2021 and made the unusual request before he sadly passed away on October 20th 2023.
Helen said: "Johny loved Star Wars, and he had a legendary Chewbacca impression that was his party piece.
"If there were kids around he would do it to make all the kids laugh. That was famous with family and friends.
"He was always interested in space, he watched geeky programmes with Brian Cox in.
"He had an app on his phone that he could look at star constellations and he'd sit at night pointing things out. He loved how space is never-ending and how it's just a bit mindblowing.
"When he knew he was ill he chose his funeral music, which was The Throne Room scene from Star Wars: A New Hope.
"He said he wanted to go into [the funeral] with that and he decided he wanted to have his ashes sent up into space.
"I was like 'how can you do that?' I'd never heard of anybody doing that."
After doing some research online, Helen discovered Aura Flights, who has partnered with funeral directors A.W. Lymn, offered the £2,950 service from their headquarters in Sheffield.
Helen said: "Being able to launch his ashes into space from so close to home was like it was meant to be, like the stars aligned.
"I was able to go myself and take his ashes.
"They could have done it [the flight] sooner but I wanted them to wait for a clearer day so the images look better.
"I didn't know they were doing it until that very morning as they had to check the weather.
"I got a message that day saying 'we're doing it today between 11am and 1pm and I thought 'oh my God he's going up today'.
"I remember at the time saying I felt euphoric in a way that we'd done it.
"He was such a family man. He was a brilliant hands-on dad and a brilliant husband."
Aura Flights General Manager Samantha Richardson said: "It's such a joy for us as a company to be able to offer this service that provides families an innovative way and a perfect end-of-life celebration for their family member.
"As we know such a decision is an integral part of the grieving process - respecting and accommodating the last wishes of their loved one.
"This invites closure for family and friends and for us to be able to form part of that journey with a family is a real pleasure."
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