Mother Fulfills Son's Dying Wish to Be Turned Into an Artificial Coral Reef Metro News
go to original March 14, 2017

Eternal Reefs are permanent living legacies that memorialize the passing of a loved one by helping to preserve and protect the marine environment for the benefit of future generations (Eternal Reefs)

A grieving mother fulfilled her son’s dying wish by having his body turned into an artificial coral reef.

Just months before John Flowers died from a rare brain cancer at the age of 20, he told his her he wanted his ashes to be placed in a concrete ‘reef ball’ in the sea.

Phyliss, 66, from Sarasota, Florida, said he asked for his brain and spine to be used for for research into his condition, but for the rest of his body to become part of the Eternal Reef – which is made almost entirely of balls containing people’s ashes.

Costing around $5,000, reef balls are made from a special concrete mixed with cremation ash, so they act like natural coral – providing a habitat for ocean fish.

John’s reef ball also contained diving mementos – including dinosaur teeth, his first dive knife and his dog tags. It was the 700th ball to be released in the Gulf of Mexico.

When John was about ten, he won a competition in Florida for this painting of himself diving (PA Real Life)

...John was diagnosed with a rare glioneuronal tumour on December 29, 2014. This is a form of cancer that spreads throughout the brain and nervous system, and cannot be removed by surgery.

He underwent chemo and radiotherapy, but in July 2015 doctors told him that he should start planning for his death.

‘He had been to his grandparents’ funerals and he said he just didn’t want his own to be sad,’ Phyliss said. ‘That’s why he wanted to be part of the Eternal Reef.’

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