Teen declared dead comes back to life in coffin during her own funeral
Guatemalan girl Yuleidy Ixcotoyac, 15, sat up in her coffin hours after her father found no pulse and declared her dead.
Yuleidy Ixcotoyac lost consciousness while her father drove her to a medical center in Guatemala early Saturday. Abraham pulled over and checked for a pulse and breathing, finding neither and thinking she had died.
The family did not wait for a doctor to examine her or issue a death certificate. They bought a coffin and returned home to begin the wake.
Mourners gathered at the house in El Jocote that same day. Her mother Lesvia Ríos was crying over the coffin when she felt movement inside.
Her daughter opened her eyes and sat upright as the coffin lid was quickly removed. Ixcotoyac told reporters her heart had hurt badly before she blacked out.
She described her survival as a miracle. Her father confirmed he had not taken her to the hospital after she lost consciousness.
He believed she was already gone.
- 15
- Yuleidy's age
- Evangelical pastor
- Father's role
- El Jocote, Guatemala
- Location
- Early Saturday
- Time of incident
Why it mattersThe story shows the risks of declaring someone dead without medical examination. It also shows how quickly a person's condition can be misread.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect; a reminder of the importance of medical assessment before declaring death.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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