The nanny's coffin fell from a helicopter into the field as it brought her body in for the funeral

The remarkable story of Mary Folan's burial is told in an upcoming documentary - how the American immigrant wanted her body returned home to Ireland to to be buried, but not everything went as planned

The body of Mary Folan was being flown from America to Ireland when it fell from a helicopter (stock image) (

Image: Getty Images

The remarkable story of a woman whose coffin toppled over and fell from a helicopter on her way home is told in an all-new documentary.

Mary Folan emigrated from her native Ireland to the United States in the 1920s, but wanted to be buried at her home, overlooking the sea.

So when she died in 1967, her family arranged to have her body flown back to Inis Meáin, off Co Galway, where she had grown up.

However, a new documentary chronicles how the incredible gesture of repatriating his body didn't quite go to plan.

On the return trip, his remains fell from the helicopter and fell into a field below, The Irish Mirror reported.

Mary's remarkable story shot to fame in 2019 when a Co Clare resident aired the incredible story.

But now RTE is turning the story of his return trip into a documentary.

Inis Meáin, where Mary wanted to be taken back and buried when she died - but all did not go as planned (

Picture:

Irish mirror)

In 1967, Mary lost her battle with cancer at the age of 56.

She left Inis Meáin at age 18 to move to Boston in the United States, where she worked as a nanny.

But his last wish was to watch...