In a startling turn of events, a 76-year-old retired nurse from Ecuador, Bella Montoya, who had been declared dead, suddenly regained consciousness and began knocking inside her coffin during her remembrance service. Doctors had pronounced her deceased after she possibly suffered a stroke and experienced cardiopulmonary arrest, with resuscitation efforts proving unsuccessful, according to Ecuador’s health ministry.
The incident occurred on June 9 when Montoya’s family had gathered at a funeral home to pay their respects. The wake commenced shortly after medical professionals had declared her deceased. However, just a few hours into the ceremony, the family was jolted by a mysterious sound emanating from the coffin.
“It gave us all a fright,” admitted Gilberto Barbera, Montoya’s son, in an interview with The Associated Press. He emphasized that his mother’s condition remained critical. Consequently, Montoya was promptly transported back to the hospital by her concerned family.
Barbera described the chilling moment when the coffin started producing audible noises, stating, “There were about 20 of us there. After about five hours of the wake, the coffin started to make sounds. My mom was wrapped in sheets and hitting the coffin, and when we approached, we could see that she was breathing heavily.”
The medical experts theorized that Montoya’s cardiorespiratory arrest might have induced a condition known as catalepsy, characterized by a trance-like state where the body becomes rigid and experiences reduced sensitivity to pain. This state can lead to a decrease in various bodily functions, such as breathing, as reported by the New York Post.
Barbera remained hopeful, sharing the positive signs exhibited by his mother. “My mother is on oxygen. Her heart is stable,” he explained. “The doctor squeezed her hand, and she reacted. They tell me this is a good sign because it means she is reacting little by little. Now, I only ask that my mother’s health improves. I want her alive and by my side.”
In response to the incident, Ecuador’s health ministry disclosed that Montoya currently remains in intensive care while they initiate an investigation into the doctors responsible for her treatment last week. The focus of the investigation will be on the hospital’s procedures for issuing death certificates.
The health ministry did not disclose any specific details regarding the doctor who prematurely declared Montoya dead, but they aim to gather all relevant information as part of their inquiry.
AFP
