A 76-year-old woman in Ecuador that was found to be alive in her coffin at her own wake died seven days later.
Bella Montoya had initially been declared dead by a doctor at a hospital in Babahoyo. However, as attendees at her wake heard signs of movement from the coffin, she was immediately rushed back to the same hospital for urgent medical attention.
Following seven days in intensive care, the health ministry of Ecuador officially confirmed Montoya’s death on Friday, attributing it to an ischemic stroke. Throughout her hospitalisation, she had been under constant “permanent surveillance,” as stated by the ministry.
Gilbert Barbera, Montoya’s son, expressed his sorrow, stating, “This time my mother truly passed away. My life will never be the same,” in an interview with a local newspaper.
In accordance with customary practices, Montoya’s body was returned to the same funeral home for preparations ahead of burial in a public cemetery, as reported by local media sources.
It has been noted that Montoya suffered from a condition known as catalepsy, characterised by seizures, loss of consciousness, and rigidity of the body.
