BEIJING: A woman in her 70s in northern China briefly exhibited signs of life after being placed in a coffin, but ultimately died two days later.
The woman, from Hebei province, had been suffering from cerebral thrombosis for decades and was also battling cancer, according to reports from mainland sources.
After doctors concluded that her cancer was no longer treatable, her family brought her home for end-of-life care.
On Sept 8, relatives found no apparent signs of life and placed her in a refrigerated coffin to preserve her body while awaiting the return of family members from out of town for a final farewell.
However, the following evening, her daughter-in-law heard faint “humming” sounds coming from inside the coffin. The family promptly removed the elderly woman from it.
When relatives arrived on Sept 11, the woman had regained consciousness and could open her eyes, although she remained in critical condition and was unable to eat or drink.
Sadly, she died later that night and was laid to rest on Sept 13, with family members attending the funeral.
The incident was shared online by a family member, leading to questions regarding its authenticity.
The poster defended the account, stating: “No one would fabricate a story about the life and death of their own family member.”
Some local residents also claimed to have heard about the incident in the village.
According to a village official, the family used the refrigeration function of the coffin, rather than the deep-freezing mode, to keep the body cool while awaiting the return of relatives.
This arrangement is believed to have enabled the woman, who was reportedly in a state of extremely low physiological activity, to exhibit signs of life.
Doctors indicated that the case may have involved “apparent death,” a condition in which vital signs become exceedingly difficult to detect.
Individuals in such a state may display barely detectable breathing and heartbeat, experience a slowed metabolism, and fall into a deep coma, as reported by Health Times.
Medical professionals adhere to strict criteria when determining death and continue resuscitation efforts even when a patient appears to show no signs of life.
This unusual case has generated significant discussion on mainland social media.
One online observer commented: “This kind of ‘return to life’ must have been a painful experience for the woman. I hope she has found peace in the afterlife.”
“The family should have obtained a formal death certificate from a hospital first,” remarked another.
A third user reflected on traditional mourning customs, noting: “In the past, families often kept the deceased at home for three days. Today, everything moves so quickly that some individuals are cremated soon after being declared dead.” - South China Morning Post
