Laurent Simon, a resident of Saint-Maurice-Colombier near Montbéliard in eastern France, recently discovered the tragic passing of his son, Ange, in September 2025. Surprisingly, Ange, a 39-year-old homeless man, had actually died a few months earlier in April. His body had been stored at Bordeaux University Hospital during that time, and the hospital is now requesting €3,800 (about £3,310) from his father, as reported by ICI Belfort Montbéliard.
Ange was found deceased inside a vehicle in a car park in Bouliac, near Bordeaux. Due to his struggles with addiction, he had limited contact with his family.
Laurent Simon only learned of his son’s death through hearsay from acquaintances, prompting him to seek a death certificate from Belfort Town Hall. Subsequently, he confirmed that Ange’s remains had been at Bordeaux University Hospital for several months in the hospital morgue, nearly being buried in a communal cemetery.
The distressing situation has been exacerbated for Laurent Simon as the hospital has billed him for storage fees, a development he finds challenging to accept. He expressed that had he been informed earlier, he would have promptly addressed the funeral arrangements.
In response to the situation, Bordeaux University Hospital released a statement acknowledging the distress caused but clarified that they are not responsible for tracing the deceased’s relatives, as it falls under the purview of other authorities. The hospital defended the billing, stating that the storage costs are considered funeral expenses and must be settled according to legal provisions.
French law dictates that hospitals are not obligated to locate the deceased’s family, with the responsibility resting on administrative bodies. Storage in the mortuary is free for a limited time before charges are imposed, categorized as funeral expenses payable by the heirs. If no family is identified, the local council may organize a funeral, seeking reimbursement from relatives if they are subsequently identified.
Advocacy group Les Morts de la Rue highlighted that this situation is not unique, as relatives of homeless individuals often learn of their loved one’s death belatedly due to communication gaps. In 2025 alone, 956 homeless individuals died on the streets in France, underscoring the challenges faced by this vulnerable population.
