Woman Declared 'Dead' Found Alive in Coffin During Her Own Wake

Ecuadorian woman Bella Montoya stuns family as she breathes inside coffin during wake

A family in Ecuador experienced a real-life horror movie scenario when they discovered a 76-year-old woman, Bella Montoya, breathing inside her coffin during her own wake. Montoya, a retired nurse, had been declared dead by a doctor at the Martín Icaza Hospital after suffering a possible stroke and cardiac arrest. She was unconscious upon arrival at the hospital and did not respond to resuscitation attempts.

During the wake, after approximately five hours of mourning, strange noises, including knocking sounds, were heard coming from inside the coffin. In a viral video capturing the incident, mourners swiftly opened the casket and found Montoya struggling to breathe. Paramedics arrived and immediately transported her to the same hospital where she had been pronounced dead. The video revealed a hospital identification band on Montoya's wrist, confirming her previous declaration of death.

Gilberto Barbera, Montoya's son, expressed how the incident frightened everyone present. He recounted that his mother, wrapped in sheets, was hitting the coffin, and when they approached, they could observe her heavy breathing. Barbera later informed local media that his mother was in the intensive care unit, and her condition was described as dire.

While Montoya's current condition remains unknown, the Ministry of Public Health in Ecuador stated that she is in an unstable state. An investigation has been launched by the ministry and the Health Services Quality Assurance Agency to determine responsibility for erroneously declaring Montoya dead. The investigation will also assess the hospital's procedures for issuing death certificates.

Montoya's case is not an isolated incident. In February, a woman from Long Island, New York, was discovered to be breathing in a funeral home after being declared dead by doctors just hours before. Similarly, less than a week prior to that, a hospice patient in Iowa was found gasping for breath inside a body bag despite having been presumed dead.

The Ministry of Public Health's committee investigation, along with the medical audit, aims to prevent future occurrences of wrongful declarations of death. The focus will be on identifying the parties responsible and evaluating the hospital's protocols.

This astonishing incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough medical examinations and procedures in determining a person's vital signs accurately. The family and medical authorities await further updates on Montoya's condition, hoping for a positive outcome.