A 23-Week Premature Infant Declared Dead Revives in Morgue Refrigerator

[Image source = Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] A premature baby born at 23 weeks in Mexico and declared dead miraculously came back to life after 6 hours in the morgue refrigerator and returned to the arms of the parents.

According to foreign media, at around 4 a.m. local time on the 21st, a premature baby was born at 23 weeks at the hospital "La Margarita" in Puebla, Mexico. The baby was born 3 to 4 months earlier than the due date, and since there were no signs of life such as movement or breathing, the doctor thought the baby had died.

As a result, the baby was moved to the morgue refrigerator where bodies are stored. However, about 5 hours and 30 minutes after the death declaration, the morticians went to see the body to prepare for the funeral and were shocked. They confirmed the cries and movements of the baby who had been declared dead.

The baby placed in the morgue refrigerator was crying and moving, and breathing was also confirmed. The mortician immediately called the parents and medical staff, and the baby was rescued 6 hours after the death declaration.

Miguel Flores, the head of the funeral company, said, "The baby was crying loudly, so I urgently called the father and the doctor who declared the death," adding, "I cannot understand how the baby survived in the morgue. The morgue refrigerator usually prevents the limbs of the deceased from decaying, but I have never experienced anything like this."

The baby's father, who rushed over after being contacted, showed tears and said, "The baby is crying. The baby is alive. Our poor baby. God, please take care of the baby. Please stay by the baby's side so the baby can fight and win."

[Image source = Twitter]

The emotional reunion between the parents and the baby quickly spread through local social media, and the baby was moved to the neonatal intensive care unit for protection.

Mexican netizens expressed outrage with comments such as "The hospital is incompetent," and "How could a living baby be declared dead...". The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) announced that it is currently conducting an investigation into the hospital.