'Dead' Woman Wakes Up at Funeral Home

Colombian, 45, moves arm just before being embalmed
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 18, 2010 3:00 PM CST
'Dead' Woman Wakes Up at Funeral Home
A file photo at funeral home.   (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

A Colombian woman declared dead of a heart attack moved one of her arms just as an undertaker was about to embalm her, doctors said today. Noelia Serna, 45, was rushed to a hospital in the city of Cali, where she was in critical condition in an intensive care unit. "Her chances of survival are slim," says the hospital director. Serna, who has multiple sclerosis, was admitted to the same hospital on Monday after a heart attack.

She survived for about 10 hours on life support, but then seemingly didn't respond to resuscitation efforts following a second attack. She was declared dead early yesterday. About two hours later, funeral home employee Jaime Aullon was just about to inject embalming fluid into Serna's left leg when he saw her move. "She was moving her right arm," he said. "I stopped the procedure and brought her back to the hospital to be treated." (More Colombia stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X