NRT briefing
Teen wakes up in coffin at her own funeral, shocking mourners
Based on reporting by New York Post.
The Brief
A 15-year-old girl in Guatemala, Yuleidy Ixcotoyac, stunned mourners at her own funeral when she woke up inside her coffin. The incident occurred after she reportedly passed out while being driven to a medical center by her father, Abraham Ixcotoyac, an evangelical pastor.
He stopped the car, checked her pulse and breathing, and declared her dead on the spot in the early hours of Saturday morning. No doctor confirmed the death, and no official death certificate was issued. Because burying loved ones quickly is customary in the country, a coffin was purchased and a funeral arranged eight hours later.
During the wake, her mother, Lesvia Ríos, noticed movement and the teen sat up, speaking, and was helped out of the coffin. The family, which had been grieving, celebrated with shouts of 'hallelujah.' Yuleidy is now conscious and recovering at home, and she says she 'thanks God' for being alive. Guatemalan health authorities have not commented on the incident.