In a startling turn of events, a 76-year-old retired nurse in Ecuador, Bella Montoya, was mistakenly pronounced dead only to revive during her own wake. After experiencing a suspected stroke and cardiac arrest, Montoya was unresponsive to resuscitation and declared dead by physicians. Her family commenced funeral arrangements, holding a wake just hours later.

Approximately five hours into the service, attendees heard noises emanating from the coffin. To their astonishment, Montoya was found moving and breathing heavily inside. Her son, Gilberto Barbera, described the scene as frightening. He recounted that his mother was wrapped in sheets and knocking on the coffin lid. Upon closer inspection, it was evident she was still alive.

The family immediately transported Montoya back to the hospital, where she remains in intensive care, receiving oxygen support. Doctors believe she may have experienced a cataleptic episode, a condition characterized by bodily rigidity, decreased pain sensitivity, and slowed bodily functions, sometimes mistaken for death. Barbera reported that his mother squeezed a doctor's hand, a positive sign indicating responsiveness.

Ecuador's Ministry of Health has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Montoya's premature death declaration, focusing on the hospital's death certification procedures. The doctor involved has not been publicly identified. The family is hopeful for Montoya's continued recovery.