An eight-month-old girl was rushed to the hospital from her own funeral after shocked mourners noticed movement in her coffin.
Kiara Crislayne de Moura dos Santos had been admitted to Faustino Riscarolli Hospital in Correia Pinto, Santa Catarina, Brazil, on October 19, where doctors concluded she was not breathing, had no pulse, and declared her dead shortly after.
Two hours after Kiara was pronounced dead, funeral director Aureo Arruda Ramos retrieved her body from the morgue, and her family prepared for her funeral that evening.
The ceremony began at 7 PM but was interrupted when someone noticed movement in the infant’s hand within her open coffin.
A mourner then touched her hand, prompting her fingers to reportedly curl, which sparked a frantic rush for medical help, hoping to save her.
Firefighter paramedics arrived and confirmed that the baby girl still had a pulse and showed no signs of rigor mortis, which usually appears six to eight hours after death. Her oxygen levels were at 84 percent, below the safe threshold of 90 percent, leading to an immediate transport back to the hospital.
However, upon arrival, her heart stopped once more, and she was declared dead a second time within 24 hours.
Her father, Cristiano Santos, shared with Brazilian media, “We were already heartbroken. Then we had a moment of hope, but it ended in further tragedy.”
Brazil’s Scientific Police are investigating the hospital, which initially pronounced Kiara dead 16 hours before she was found with a pulse at her funeral. The hospital later confirmed her death a second time after she was returned.
Correia Pinto City Hall issued an apology to Kiara’s family, promising a full investigation with results expected within 30 days.
A city spokesperson stated, “The Municipality of Correia Pinto is committed to ensuring the best care for all citizens. No professional should issue statements or certificates without thorough patient assessment. Health professionals are regularly trained to prioritize lives and well-being.”
It remains uncertain if Kiara’s parents will pursue legal action against the hospital.