An Ecuadorian woman who surprised guests at her wake by knocking on her coffin earlier this month died Friday after a week of intensive care.
Doctors declared 76-year-old Bella Montoya, a retired nurse, dead after she suffered a possible stroke and cardiopulmonary arrest. Ecuador’s health ministry said Montoya did not respond to resuscitation efforts.
Her family had previously gathered for a wake at a funeral home on June 9, just hours after Montoya was declared dead by doctors the first time. But everything came to a stop when they heard a sound coming from inside the coffin.
Montoya’s son, Gilberto Barbera, told the Associated Press the sound gave everyone a “fright.” He also said his mother’s condition remained dire, and she was returned to the hospital immediately.
Health workers lift Bella Montoya onto a gurney to take her back to a hospital for treatment after realizing she is alive.
He said Montoya’s sister filed a formal complaint about the incident and is looking to find out who the doctor was who declared her dead.
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Montoya’s remains were sent back to the same funeral home where she previously regained consciousness, and her son said she will be buried at a public cemetery.