Man reads of his own death in newspaper

A man in Sweden was shocked when he opened a newspaper to read about his own death.

Sven-Olof Svensson had been spending some time in hospital where he was receiving treatment and it is believed that a mix-up between doctors and his sister led to the notice of his death being placed in the local publication.

Mr Svensson, 81, was admitted on Christmas Eve after complaining of feeling unwell and he spent several days receiving care. It was around a week later, while he was still recuperating in his hospital bed, that he read reports of his passing.

His 90-year-old sister is thought to have been involved in a conversation with doctors on the phone in which she mistakenly took the impression that her brother had died. She then informed the newspaper and asked for the obituary to be printed.

Mr Svensson joked about reports of his untimely demise, stating: "Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

A friend of his sister was later asked to visit the hospital to pick up his belongings and was shocked to find Mr Svensson sitting up in bed.

Despite feeling unwell around a week earlier, he had made an excellent recovery and was fighting fit. A reporter from the Jonkopings-Posted was then invited to the hospital to compile a follow-up article, after originally being asked to pen a tribute.

On the subject of the obituary, Mr Svensson said: "You don't feel much. We are all on the same road. Sooner or later you are going to end up in the obituary section. I've lived a fantastic long life, I'm 81 and can't complain about my age."