In a shocking turn of events, mourners attending the wake of 76-year-old Bella Montoya in the city of Babahoyo were taken aback when she suddenly showed signs of life.

Earlier, a hospital doctor had declared her dead after a suspected stroke, and she had been placed in a coffin at a funeral parlor.

However, as family members prepared to change her clothes ahead of the funeral, Montoya gasped for air, leaving everyone astonished.

Gilbert Balberán, Montoya’s son, vividly described the emotional moment when he realized his mother was still alive: “My mum started to move her left hand, to open her eyes, her mouth; she struggled to breathe.”

A video captured by one of the mourners shows Montoya lying in an open coffin, visibly struggling for breath, while others expressed frustration over the delayed arrival of an ambulance they had called.

Firefighters were eventually summoned and swiftly transferred Montoya back to the hospital where she had previously been pronounced dead.

Her son informed Ecuadorean media that she was in intensive care but showing signs of responsiveness.

“My mum is on oxygen, her heart is stable. The doctor pinched her hand and she reacted, they tell me that’s good because it means she is reacting little by little,” he told El Universo.

Montoya’s case is not an isolated incident, as similar occurrences have been documented before.

In a New York State nursing home, an 82-year-old woman was found to be breathing three hours after being pronounced dead.

Although such instances are rare, Dr. Stuart Hughes, a senior lecturer in medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, explains that “death is a process” and emphasizes the need for careful examination to confirm death.

Dr. Hughes, an expert in emergency medicine, highlights the importance of thorough assessments, including checking for responses, pulse, heart sounds, and breathing efforts over a reasonable duration.

Only after a comprehensive evaluation can medical professionals confidently pronounce death. Factors such as extreme coldness and the influence of certain medications can complicate the determination of death, leading to potential misjudgments when rushed or incomplete examinations take place.

In response to Montoya’s case, Ecuador’s health ministry has established a committee to investigate the incident, seeking to shed light on the circumstances that led to the premature declaration of her death.

While such cases are extraordinary, they serve as a reminder of the intricacies involved in determining the ultimate cessation of life.

These episodes raise compelling questions about the limits of medical certainty and the need for meticulous protocols to prevent premature pronouncements of death.

How can we ensure that individuals receive accurate and thorough assessments?

Are there steps that medical professionals can take to minimize the chances of misjudging such critical situations?

While Montoya’s recovery brings a glimmer of hope amidst the somber backdrop of a funeral, it also underscores the importance of prudence and caution in declaring a person deceased.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility and unpredictability of life itself.