Cemetery visitor falls in grave

Cemetery visitor falls in grave

A Dutch woman fell into a an old grave after it collapsed while she was watering flowers at a cemetery.

Monique Zuydendorp, 40, of Capelle aan de Ijssel was watering flowers on her uncle's grave in Schollevaar.

Suddenly, a neighbouring grave subsided and Ms Zuydendorp fell in, landing on the coffin.

The grave was that of a woman who had died in September 2005.

"It was a horryfying experience," she told Algemeen Dagblad.

Fortunately she was with a friend who, with other cemetery visitors, managed to pull her out of the grave.

Ms Zuydendorp needed medical attention for bruises but says the emotional shock was the only lasting damage.

The experience has confirmed one decision: "When the time comes, I want to be cremated," she said.

Workers at the cemetery say the grave contained three coffins on top of each other and say one or more must have collapsed.