NEW DELHI: An Indian car crash victim who was declared brain-dead by doctors sparked shock and disbelief when he began moving and coughing at his own funeral.
Bhau Lachke, 19, from Trimbakeshwar taluka in India’s Maharashtra state, had suffered multiple severe injuries in a recent car accident.
He was rushed to a private hospital for treatment.
According to his family, after exhaustive efforts to save him, doctors reportedly informed them that he was in a “brain-dead” condition and had “almost no chance of survival”.
Heartbroken by the news, the family began preparing his funeral.
However, just as the ceremony was about to begin, Lachke’s body suddenly showed signs of life, first with slight movements, then with a few coughs.
His dramatic “resurrection” stunned grieving relatives and onlookers, who quickly took him to hospital for further treatment.
Lachke remains in hospital in a critical condition, relying on a ventilator for breathing support.
The incident quickly attracted widespread attention and sharp criticism from Lachke’s family, who accused the hospital of misdiagnosis and misleading them by declaring him brain-dead.
It also caused them tremendous emotional distress.
Managers at the private hospital have suggested that the family may have misunderstood the complex medical terminology.
They specifically cited the term “brain death”, which refers to the irreversible loss of brain function but does not necessarily equate to clinical death.
“The patient was in a critical state, and we communicated his condition to the family. There was no declaration of death,” a hospital spokesperson said, adding that they are cooperating with official inquiries into the matter.
The case is under investigation and it is unclear whether the family plans to pursue legal action.
“We thought we had lost him, but this feels like a miracle. We just want him to get better,” Gangaram Shinde, one of his relatives, told The Indian Witness.
The news sparked a heated discussion online, with many describing it as a “medical miracle”.
One online observer said: “This is unbelievable. A funeral means he was thought to be dead for days.”
“He clearly was not meant to die yet. His mission in this world is not done,” said another.
While a third said: “The real question is, do they still have to pay for the funeral?” - South China Morning Post
