An Icelandic newspaper mistakenly published the obituary of Solvi Gudmundsson, prompting outrage and an investigation into how the error occurred.
False Obituary Sparks Outrage
The false obituary was published in the Friday edition of “Morgunbladid.” The error was quickly noticed and gained attention after Solvi Gudmundsson himself posted about it on social media.
“Dear family, dear friends, everyone who has written and checked if I am really dead, I inform you that this is not true. I am alive and well,” he wrote on Facebook.
Claims of Deliberate Disinformation
Gudmundsson expressed his anger, claiming two women intentionally caused the false information about his death to spread. He stated one of the women had previously been reported for stalking, with at least seven complaints filed against her.
Gudmundsson also reported the matter to the appropriate authorities.
“This is Not a Game”
“This is not a game. It’s an appalling experience, especially when state authorities remain passive,” Gudmundsson wrote.
Newspaper Apologizes
“Morgunbladid” contacted Gudmundsson and apologized for the publication. Apologies were also extended to his family and readers.
The newspaper stated the obituary was delivered through standard procedure and did not raise any credibility concerns. They announced a thorough investigation and measures to prevent similar incidents, and the matter has been reported to the authorities.
Past Incident at the Same Paper
A similar incident occurred in December 2008, when the paper mistakenly reported the death of an inmate at Litla-Hraun prison. That announcement also included a bank account number belonging to a different prisoner, leading to a police investigation into the dissemination of false information.
