After eight months, the body of Bikram Lama, the homeless former international student known as Sydney's 'birdman,' is finally being repatriated to Nepal. Euro Funeral Services confirmed that the remains will be ready for flight in the coming days, following a prolonged coronial process that has left his family in grief and without closure.
Family's Long Wait for Closure
Seti Maya Lama, Bikram's 71-year-old mother, has been consumed by grief since her son's death. She told the Guardian, 'I just want to see my son's face one last time. If I can see him one last time, my heart will finally find some peace.' The family has faced immense emotional stress and financial hardship, with delays in the coronial system preventing the repatriation.
Bikram Lama, 32, died while sleeping rough in Hyde Park, Sydney, last December. His body lay undiscovered for days near the St James station tunnel, decomposed by the time it was found. An investigation by Guardian Australia in April highlighted systemic failures that trap non-residents in homelessness, prompting calls for change from federal and state ministers, councils, and frontline workers.
Coronial Delays and Systemic Issues
The repatriation was delayed by a DNA procedure requiring Bikram's mother to travel from her village to Kathmandu to provide a sample, completed in early June. However, the coroner stated that police are still compiling their brief of evidence, and no decision has been made on whether an inquest will be held. Homelessness experts are calling for an inquest to prevent future deaths.
Former deputy state coroner Hugh Dillon criticized the system, saying, 'The police set their own timetables and priorities for investigations. The system would work better if there were police investigators dedicated to coronial investigations.' He added that the Lama case is 'yet another example of why we need a modernised coronial system.'
Community and Government Support
The family has been coordinating with Nepali community organizations and students in Australia for financial assistance. Usha Lama, Bikram's sister-in-law, said, 'The family's financial condition is extremely poor. Without financial assistance, it would be even more difficult to repatriate his body.' Nepal's government has also been involved, with foreign ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri stating, 'The Government of Nepal has been treating such incidents with the utmost seriousness, and efforts are underway to repatriate the body of Bikram Lama.'
Usha Lama expressed relief at the impending repatriation: 'It feels unbelievable that it has taken so many months to bring him home. Instead of welcoming him back alive after going abroad to earn a living, we are forced to welcome his body. That is the painful reality.'
