John Delaney dilaporkan hilang pada tahun 2000

Seorang pria mendapati ayahnya muncul di layar televisi, lima tahun setelah dia yakin telah memperabukannya. Mayat yang ditemukan setelah orang tua itu menghilang pada tahun 2000 diduga jasad orang tua pria tersebut. Namun, ternyata itu bukan. Sedangkan, ayahnya ternyata hidup di sebuah panti jompo. Berikut laporan Danny Savage dari Manchester, Inggris:

Dengar ceritanya

When John Delaney disappeared, he was spending much of his time living rough. He was last seen in a hostel in Manchester. His family searched the streets of the city for him but had no luck. So when a badly-decomposed body was found in the grounds of the Manchester Royal Infirmary in 2003, wearing similar clothes, police believed it was Mr Delaney and his family held a funeral.

But earlier this year his son, John Renehan, saw a picture of his father on a BBC programme. An appeal was being made for anyone who knew the man - who had amnesia - to come forward.

JOHN RENEHAN:
Well I knew straight away that was me dad. I knew straight away. Obviously his face, it was a bit disfigured, but I just knew straight away that was me dad.

It emerged that John Delaney had been living in a care home for the last eight years. Police have admitted they made mistakes and their enquiries were insufficient. Mr Delaney's son now wants to know the identity of the man he cremated - thinking it was his father.

Danny Savage, BBC News, Manchester

Dengar kata-katanya

living rough
hidup menggelandang, tinggal di jalan, bukan di rumah

badly-decomposed
dalam kondisi rusak sehingga hampir mustahil dikenali lagi

An appeal
permintaan publik resmi untuk mendapatkan bantuan, dalam hal ini informasi

amnesia
kehilangan daya ingat

to come forward
bersedia memberikan bantuan, atau dalam kasus ini, memberikan informasi

straight away
segera, langsung, tanpa menunda-nunda lagi

me dad
ayah saya ( dalam dialek bahasa Inggris tertentu orang menyebut 'me' bukannya 'my')

disfigured
berubah penampakan

care home
lembaga tempat orang lanjut usia yang tidak memiliki kerabat atau teman yang bisa mengurus mereka

cremated
ketika jasad orang mati dibakar hingga menjadi abu sebagai bagian dari pemakaman