Death is a part of life that no one can predict or evade. It can bring unbearable grief and sadness for those left behind. But imagine hearing strange sounds from inside a coffin or seeing a loved one exhibit signs of life after being declared dead. These situations, though rare, do happen.
This list includes real situations of people who were declared dead but were still very much alive.
Bella Montoya
In Babahoyo, Ecuador, 76-year-old Bella Montoya, a retired nurse, was taken to the emergency room on June 9, 2023, after a possible stroke and cardiopulmonary arrest. She was declared dead after resuscitation efforts failed.
Montoya was moved to a funeral home, and her family prepared for a wake. About five hours into the wake, attendees heard strange sounds from inside her coffin. They opened the casket to find Montoya alive, wrapped in sheets, and breathing heavily. She was rushed back to the hospital and placed in intensive care.
It’s believed that Montoya experienced catalepsy during her cardiorespiratory arrest, causing a loss of voluntary motion, muscle rigidity, and slowed breathing. This may have led to the mistaken declaration of death. Sadly, Montoya died a week later after suffering a stroke in the hospital. [1]
Sammy Berko
On January 7, 2023, 16-year-old Sammy Berko from Missouri City, Texas, was rock climbing when he became limp after reaching the top. He was lowered to the ground, and CPR was administered until first responders arrived. At the hospital, doctors continued CPR for two hours but pronounced him dead.
Five minutes after his parents said their goodbyes, Berko began moving. Initially, the movement was thought to be a reflex, but his carotid artery moved. The staff quickly stabilized him.
Berko suffered an ischemic spine injury and short-term memory loss due to lack of oxygen. He also had paralysis from the waist down. It was discovered that Berko had catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPTV), a genetic condition causing abnormal heart arrhythmias. He underwent a sympathectomy and medication to prevent future cardiac arrest. [2]
Tony Yahle
In West Carrollton, Ohio, 37-year-old Tony Yahle began breathing strangely in the middle of the night on August 5, 2013. After 45 minutes of unsuccessful attempts to stimulate his heart, Yahle was declared dead. A cardiologist advised his family to say their goodbyes.
At that moment, Yahle’s son Lawrence said, “Dad, you’re not going to die today.” Yahle began showing signs of life, and his heartbeat returned, just before his body was to go to the morgue. He spent five days in a coma before awakening fully. Doctors couldn’t pinpoint what caused his heart to stop. Yahle was released from the hospital on August 15, 2013, without complications. [3]
Sreekesh Kumar
On November 18, 2021, 40-year-old Sreekesh Kumar was hit by a speeding motorbike in Uttar Pradesh, India, and suffered an internal head injury. After being examined at a district hospital and found with no heartbeat, pulse, or blood pressure, Kumar was declared dead and taken to a mortuary freezer.
Seven hours later, Kumar’s sister-in-law noticed his cheeks were warm and he was showing signs of life. Doctors transferred him to a health center. It was believed to be a case of “suspended animation.” Issues with the power in the mortuary freezer may have saved him.
However, due to his internal head injuries, Kumar slipped into a coma. He died five days later due to a clot in his brain. [4]
Mackayala Jespersen
On November 7, 2003, 20-month-old Mackayala Jespersen slipped into her backyard pool in Fullerton, California. Her mother found her face down in the pool, pulled her out, and called 911.
Emergency room doctors continued resuscitation efforts, but after an hour of a flatline heart monitor, Jespersen was pronounced dead. Forty minutes later, detectives noticed her chest moving. Medical personnel revived her.
Jespersen was left with severe brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. Her family filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital and physician. [5]
Thomas Maxwell
On February 15, 2023, 66-year-old Thomas Maxwell was found unresponsive in his Clearwater, Florida, home. Paramedics reported he wasn’t breathing, had no pulse, and was cold to the touch. They pronounced him dead.
Maxwell’s daughter, Phebe, heard him making noises and argued he wasn’t dead. The paramedics dismissed it as “gases” leaving the body and left. A sheriff’s sergeant heard Maxwell gasp for air. A different EMT department rushed to the home, and Maxwell was transported to the hospital.
Maxwell suffered cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and injuries to his kidney, arteries, and lungs. He woke up after being in an induced coma. The two paramedics were later fired due to negligence. [6]
Torianto “Junior” Brinson
On September 26, 2021, 15-year-old Torianto “Junior” Brinson was involved in a car accident in Missouri City, Texas. He was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the hospital.
Brinson’s mother, La’Kisha Wells, refused to accept the news and began praying. She saw him move, and he was taken into surgery. Brinson suffered severe brain damage and underwent four brain surgeries. He spent 21 days in a coma and months in a semi-coma before rehabilitation.
Less than a year later, Brinson was recovering well, excelling in school, and playing on his high school basketball team. [7]
Gonzalo Montoya Jiménez
Twenty-nine-year-old Gonzalo Montoya Jiménez was serving a sentence at the Villabona Penitentiary Center in Asturias, Spain. On January 7, 2018, he was found unconscious in his cell with no signs of life.
Showing signs of cyanosis, discoloration, and rigor mortis, he was declared dead by three doctors. However, four hours later, while on the morgue slab, he began to snore. He was rushed to the emergency room and regained consciousness.
Jiménez’s family stated he had epilepsy, which may have led to catalepsy, putting him in a trance-like state. Neither condition was confirmed as the cause. [8]
Jamie Ogg
In March 2010, Kate Ogg of Sydney, Australia, gave birth to twins prematurely. Emily survived, but Jamie had stopped breathing. After 20 minutes, Jamie was pronounced dead.
Ogg placed Jamie on her bare chest, and as they said their goodbyes, Jamie started making movements. The doctor insisted they were reflexes. However, after two hours, Jamie opened his eyes and grabbed at their fingers. Both the medical staff and the doctor refused to accept Jamie was alive.
After finally getting the doctor to listen with a fib, the staff leaped into action. After 80 days, Jamie and Emily went home. Miraculously, Jamie suffered no medical issues. The Oggs credit “kangaroo care” for saving Jamie’s life. [9]
Hamdi Hafez al-Nubi
Twenty-eight-year-old Hamdi Hafez al-Nubi, a waiter in Luxor, Egypt, suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead. On May 11, 2012, his family took him home to prepare his body for burial following Islamic tradition.
After burial preparations, a doctor arrived to sign the death certificate and discovered his body was still warm. He was indeed alive. Hafez al-Nubi’s mother fainted but was revived. The situation turned into a celebration. [10]
These stories remind us that sometimes, life can defy expectations and that hope can emerge even in the face of apparent finality.
What do you think about these incredible stories? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
