Parents were left in complete shock after ‘son who’d been dead for six months’ rang them up

Most parents can’t fathom the pain of losing a child. However, one family got the surprise of a lifetime when they got a call 6 months after they thought they lost their son.

An Unexpected Call

A family in New Zealand believed their son had died. However, they got a call from him 6 months later, shedding light on a bizarre family drama. In a 2023 clip, a man named Callum called into a local radio station to tell them a crazy story about how his parents believed he was dead for 6 months.

Busy with Life

Callum had been living in Wellington, 270 miles from his parents. Busy with life and work, he noticed that he hadn’t heard from his parents in a while. He was missing them and decided to give them a call. Imagine their surprise when they got a call from the son they thought was dead and had been buried. As it turns out, there’s a sinister reason for the mix-up.

A Sinister Mix-Up

Interestingly, his sister was the mastermind behind the scheme. “My sisters were in a bit of a tiff with my parents at the time and they weren’t really getting along,” Callum told ZM Radio. “My older sister actually called my parents up and told them that I had died.”

Telling the Story

“I was just busy with life and work and then I was like wait – I haven’t heard from my parents in a while, I wonder what’s going on? And I gave them a call-up, and my mum and dad were like ‘You’re alive?'” He said regarding the 6-month silence. “My mum was absolutely in tears and my dad was just kind of gobsmacked – he was just like ‘what the f**k is going on? They were kinda like running around calling our other family seeing if they had heard anything, from what I was told.”

“Then they didn’t really know anything to go off so my parents just kind of presumed ‘yeah he died’.” Callum continued. His story stunned ZM Radio hosts, Carl Fletcher, Vaughan Smith, and Hayley Sproull. “No offense. Your sister sounds like a top-level, red flag, crazy b**ch!” Host Vaughan Smith exclaimed.

A Darker Turn

Furthermore, the madness didn’t end with his death. His sister’s story got even darker as she revealed to her parents that Callum had reportedly “been stabbed to death.”

Vaughan questioned: “Wait wait wait, you were murdered? You’re not dead in an accident by your own hand, someone murdered you!” He exclaimed adding: “This is the wildest phone call we’ve ever had.”

Vaughan was unable to get over the strange story, and cause of death. “Were you the sort of person who would have been stabbed?” He asked.

Callum jokingly responded: “I was not in some gangs but I will say, at the point in time, it wouldn’t have been unpeculiar for me to get stabbed.”

Toxic Relationships Take a Toll

Although this story is bizarre and perhaps entertaining, Callum’s parents have suffered irreparable emotional damage. As a result, they no longer have contact with her. Sadly, family drama is common and nearly everyone has had some experience with it. Unfortunately, families play a key role in shaping us, so dysfunctional or toxic relationships can negatively impact one’s mental health and well-being. Moreover, people have inner demons and no amount of love or support can pull them out of their struggles. Luckily, professionals are available to help.

Open Communication

According to Parents.Com the most important thing families can do to help each other through mental health emergencies is to communicate. Families are urged to create a safe place to talk to one another. Additionally, they’re advised to respond with compassion and understanding. Alternatively, some relationships and mental health concerns require the help of trained professionals. Family, marriage, and youth counselors are nationwide, and many accept health insurance, which often covers mental health treatment as preventative care.

Resources

Moreover, here’s a list of online resources. These resources offer support to families struggling with “family drama.” Although some problems are expected, some can become problematic to those who are closest.

• SAMHSA. An organization that supports those suffering from mental health or substance challenges.
• The Parental Support Network. An organization that supports parents and other caregivers as they overcome the challenges of loving someone suffering from an array of physical or mental health challenges.
•  NAMI
• SAMHM