Shocking scenes unfolded at a wake, when mourners were astounded to witness their presumed deceased relative suddenly regain consciousness in her coffin.
76-year-old Bella Montoya had been declared dead, but surprisingly woke up just moments before her scheduled burial in Babahoyo, Ecuador. Mourners heard banging from inside the coffin. Dramatic video footage captures the frantic scene as medical personnel rush to assist Montoya upon realizing that she was still alive. She was carefully removed from the coffin and delicately placed onto a stretcher after signs of breathing were observed.
Gilbert Balberán, Montoya’s son, shared that the wake took place merely four hours after his mother was declared dead. A medical examiner had issued a death certificate, attributing her death to cardiorespiratory arrest. This arrest, Balberán explains, had resulted in catalepsy, a condition characterized by body stiffness, reduced sensitivity to pain, and diminished bodily functions including breathing. It was under these mistaken circumstances that the hospital staff declared Montoya dead.
Montoya was treated at the same hospital that prematurely declared her dead. Although she hung on to life for a week, she passed away and was buried in the same cemetery.
While Balberán describes the incident as a “miracle from God,” he admits he is still coming to terms with the situation. The Ministry of Health in Ecuador has dispatched a team to investigate the issue regarding the premature and erroneous issuance of the death certificate.
Similar incidents have occurred in the past. For instance, last year, the family of a three-year-old Mexican girl was shocked to see condensation on her coffin’s glass window during a viewing. A subsequent examination revealed a pulse, indicating that the child was alive, although she unfortunately passed away at the hospital later.
