A Spanish gravedigger was suspended after a photo went viral of him allegedly posing next to a 23-year-old corpse.

The cemetery worker in the town of Guardamar del Segura, reportedly named Clemente, dug up the body at the request of the dead man's niece so the family grave could be extended for his wife, according to The Local.

Clemente was supposed to break the corpse apart to make room for another body.

But once the body was exhumed, the niece and gravedigger somehow thought it would be a good idea to take a picture of her remarkably preserved uncle.

Clemente is shown covered in dust while holding up the mummy for the picture, according to The Local. Another man, said to be the deceased's nephew, appears on the left side of the body grinning from ear to ear.

The niece is beleived to have sent the photo to another family member via the WhatsApp messaging service, The Local reported. From there it made its way to social media.

It was apparently easy to identify Clemente in the picture because he had on his uniform, an official blue polo shirt with the town's coat of arms, officials told The Local.

"It was silliness with no justification whatsoever," a town hall spokesman said, adding they will have to take action.

Clemente was suspended from his normal job and is now performing other duties. The Civil Guard police are now investigating the case.