Linda Winterton heartbroken over wait to bring husband Guy’s body home

A wife has shared her heartbreak after she was forced to wait almost seven weeks to get her husband’s body out of the morgue.

Guy Winterton has been in the morgue at Hervey Bay Hospital while his wife Linda waits to hear whether she will receive funding assistance for his funeral.

For seven long weeks, Linda Winterton has waited to bring her beloved husband Guy home.

Suffering terminal cancer, Guy, 59, was being treated by Hervey Bay Hospital for pneumonia in January 2024, when he caught a chest infection and deteriorated.

He died on Australia Day and, because his superannuation had been consumed by medical expenses during his cancer battle, Linda had no choice but to turn to the state government’s Funeral Assistance Scheme, overseen by the Department of Justice, for assistance to pay for Guy’s funeral.

Better known to his family as Red, Guy was a much-loved father and member of the community, Linda said.

She was assured it should only take four to five for the money to be processed so Guy could be cremated and returned to his family.

Linda and Guy Winterton on their wedding day.

But seven weeks on, Linda started sharing her story on social media and reached out to the Chronicle through a friend, heartbroken that her beloved husband’s body was still being held at the morgue while she waited to find out about funding.

In desperation, the family set up a GoFundMe page to try to bring Guy home, but while it raised $800, it wasn’t enough and the family was forced to keep waiting for an answer.

On a carer’s pension after she spent years looking after Guy, Linda also has been left with little money and says she can barely focus on finding work knowing her husband remains in the morgue.

“Guy hated hospitals and I’ve left him there for nearly seven weeks,” she said through tears.

“All I want to do is bring him home.”

Guy Winterton’s body has been kept at the Hervey Bay Hospital morgue while his wife Linda waits to hear whether she will receive funding assistance for his funeral.

She had also lost her father six months ago in what was another crushing blow.

On Tuesday it appeared that Linda’s application for funeral assistance had been approved and she would be able to give Guy the send-off he deserved.

A spokeswoman from the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service said help had been provided to Linda as she fought to get her husband home.

“Wide Bay HHS extends our deepest condolences to Mrs Winterton for her loss,” the spokeswoman said.

“Our team at Hervey Bay Hospital has advocated strongly on behalf of Mrs Winterton and her family, including assisting them to complete the necessary paperwork to apply for funeral assistance.

“Our Social Work Department will continue to provide ongoing support during this difficult time.”

Guy Winterton has been in the morgue at Hervey Bay Hospital while his wife Linda waited to hear whether she will receive funding assistance for his funeral.

A Department of Justice and Attorney-General spokesman said DJAG was responsible for administering the Funeral Assistance Scheme, “whereby it arranges a simple burial or cremation for eligible persons who have died in Queensland and have no known next of kin who are willing or able to meet the cost of a funeral service”.

“As part of the process for applying for funeral assistance, an applicant must provide financial information about the Estate of the deceased person as well as personal financial information if they are the spouse of the deceased or parent of a deceased child,” he said.

“All applications are dealt with as quickly as possible, but in some circumstances, additional information is required before the application process can be finalised, as was the case with this matter.

“Coroners Court of Queensland staff work closely with families to ensure applications are finalised in a timely manner.”

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