Typically, the pronouncement of death by a physician marks the definitive end of a person’s life. However, one Ecuadorian woman defied expectations when she regained consciousness inside her coffin during her own wake, according to the Associated Press.
The incident occurred after doctors declared 76-year-old retired nurse Bella Montoya deceased at a hospital in Ecuador. Montoya had been admitted the previous Friday due to a suspected stroke and cardiopulmonary arrest, according to CBS News.
According to her son, Gilberto Barbera, she was unconscious upon arrival at the emergency room and did not respond to resuscitation attempts. Consequently, the doctors conveyed her identification documents and a death certificate to Mr. Barbera.
Subsequently, Montoya’s family and around 20 relatives assembled at a funeral home to pay their final respects. However, approximately five hours into the wake, peculiar noises emanated from the coffin, sending shockwaves through the gathering. Mr. Barbera described the incident as deeply unsettling.
Wrapped in sheets, Montoya had been vigorously striking the walls of the coffin with her hands, leaving her family astounded. Upon closer examination, they discovered that she was breathing heavily, prompting an immediate call for an ambulance to transport her back to the hospital. Montoya was subsequently intubated and is currently receiving care in the intensive care unit of Babahoyo’s MartÃn Icaza Hospital.
The Ecuadorian Health Ministry has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this extraordinary event, including the conduct of the doctors who prematurely pronounced Montoya deceased. They are also overseeing her ongoing treatment and conducting a review of the hospital’s procedures for issuing death certificates. The ministry issued a statement on Sunday, acknowledging the formation of a technical committee to address these concerns.
According to Mr. Barbera’s interview with Ecuador’s El Universo newspaper, as reported by CBS News, Montoya remains on oxygen but her condition is steadily improving. He expressed his desire for his mother’s health to continue progressing, emphasizing his hope to have her alive and by his side.
BREAKING: According to local authorities and her relatives, a 76-year-old woman who was confirmed dead at a hospital pounded on her coffin at a wake in Ecuador. She was transported in critical condition back to the hospital.
— EvoCentral (@evocentralnews) June 12, 2023
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