VIDEO: Ecuador woman who was found alive during her funeral dies after a week
Monday, 19 June 2023 (12:23 IST)
A 76-year-old Ecuadorian woman, who shocked her relatives by banging on her coffin during her funeral, has been declared dead again a week later.
Retired nurse Bella Montoya, 76, was declared dead on June 9 after she reportedly suffered cardiorespiratory arrest.
She spent about 5 hours inside a coffin and woke up in the middle of her wake and started "banging on the coffin" she was held in - shocking loved ones gathered in Babahoyo to mourn her death.
A video had went viral that showed Montoya inside her coffin, and breathing heavily due to the prolonged confinement, while two men assisted her.
This woman was found alive at her own funeral.
Bella Montoya, 76, had been declared dead till she started "banging on the coffin" she was held in. pic.twitter.com/Sry6ZDeRAP
She was then rushed back to the hospital and was in intensive care for a week and was confirmed dead Friday evening, her family and the country’s health ministry confirmed.
The retired nurse died from an ischemic stroke while she was being watched under “permanent surveillance” in the ICU, the ministry said in a statement.
