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Man receives government letter telling him he’s dead

"The current situation may seem farcical but it has many ramifications."

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Mark Cusack had to get a letter from his GP to confirm that he is alive. (Newbury Today via SWNS)

By Ed Cullinane via SWNS

A British man claims he received a government letter telling him he was DEAD - and now he needs a doctor's note to prove he's alive.

Mark Cusack, 48, says that the bizarre letter from the Department of Work and Pensions has left him with no National Insurance number, the UK equivalent of a Social Security number.

The former town councilor from Hungerford, England, who lives alone with his dog Puggles says that the local council was even informed of his 'demise' - leaving him unable to pay council tax.

Despite seeing the "funny side" of the experience, he's now had to get a letter from his GP confirming that he is, in fact, still alive.

The letter, on The Hungerford Surgery headed notepaper, states: "I am writing as the above gentleman's General Practitioner.

"I can confirm I consulted with him today in person and that he is alive."

Mark said: "She joked that I should consider cashing in any life insurance I might have.

"I've reported the matter to Action Fraud, given that I've had a previous issue of identity theft.

"The current situation may seem farcical but it has many ramifications.

"I really wouldn't want anyone else to be faced with a situation where they're suddenly 'deceased,' especially not someone with a health condition or who is in a vulnerable situation."

"Unfortunately, reversing everything is not as simple as making a phone call or writing a letter."

A DWP spokesperson said it is not able to provide a comment as relevant fact-checking has not taken place by the media and it has not been given the ''information needed to look into it what has happened."

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