British gay widower whose husband died in Australia wins fight to have same-sex marriage recognised

A gay British widower has received an apology from the premier of South Australia after state authorities refused to recognise his marriage when his husband died.

The British High Commission have also said David Bulmer-Rizzi, 32, who died after falling down the stairs while on honeymoon in Adelaide, will be registered as married on his death certificate.

After David's death on Saturday, the state did not recognise his husband, Marco Bulmer-Rizzi, 38, as next-of-kin and he was unable to plan his funeral.

In a further blow, David's death certificate was marked "never married", despite his husband's protests.

The couple, who lived in Sunderland, married in London last year.

But South Australia does not currently recognise same-sex marriages, even foreign ones, as legal partnerships.

South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill said he had phoned the widower to express his sorrow over his treatment.

Mr Weatherill said: "Ultimately this is about recognition of same sex marriage and there are so many things that flow from that such as basic acceptance in our community."

A spokesman for the high commission in Canberra said staff in Australia and the UK had been working to find a practical solution.

The spokesman told the Guardian: "In this exceptional case, we have now put in place a process to issue a death registration quickly once an application is received."

Marco said the UK consulate had phoned him to say the government recognised the "gap in policy".

All same-sex couples in the same position abroad will now be able to register the death of their loved one at a British embassy, which will register their status as a married couple in the UK public record.

Marco posted online: "But even better, and all I have ever wanted, it will show my name as the applicant and my relationship to David as his husband."

David's father, Nigel Bulmer, flew to Australia after learning of his son's death and had to make the funeral arrangements.

Mr Bulmer said:"I was hurting at the time and that really did, that was just putting the knife in and twisting it."