11 September, 2008 - Published 11:08 GMT
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
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