In a heartbreaking turn of events, the funeral of an eight-month-old baby girl in Brazil took a shocking twist when mourners discovered she was moving inside her coffin.
The child, identified as Kiara Crislayne de Moura dos Santos, had initially been declared dead and her devastated parents had begun the painful process of saying their final goodbyes.
Kiara had been admitted to Faustino Riscarolli Hospital in Correia Pinto, Santa Catarina, in the early hours of October 19 after doctors determined she had no heartbeat and was not breathing.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, she was officially pronounced dead shortly after her arrival at the hospital.
A few hours later, funeral director Aureo Arruda Ramos, along with the grieving parents, collected Kiara’s body from the morgue to prepare for her funeral later that evening.
The somber ceremony began at 7 p.m., but as mourners gathered to pay their respects, an eerie moment interrupted the service: someone noticed Kiara’s hand moving within her open coffin.
One attendee, alarmed by what they saw, rushed over to the coffin and gently touched the infant’s hand. To everyone’s shock, Kiara’s fingers curled in response, sparking a frantic attempt to get her medical attention.
Firefighter paramedics quickly arrived and discovered the baby girl still had a pulse.
Even more concerning, the paramedics noted the absence of rigor mortis—a condition that typically stiffens the body between six to eight hours after death.
Additionally, her oxygen saturation level was measured at 84%, which is dangerously below the normal 90% threshold, suggesting she was still in a critical condition.
The baby was rushed back to the hospital with the faint hope of saving her.
Tragically, by the time Kiara was readmitted, her heart had stopped once more, and she was pronounced dead for the second time within the span of 24 hours.
Her father, Cristiano Santos, expressed the family’s anguish in an interview with the local media, noting, “We were devastated already. Then there came a little bit of hope, but then this ended up happening.”
The hospital now faces an investigation led by Brazil’s specialist Scientific Police to understand how such an oversight occurred.
They had declared the infant dead 16 hours prior to the discovery of her pulse at the funeral. After Kiara was returned to the hospital, they confirmed her death once again.
The City Hall of Correia Pinto issued a formal apology to the family, stating that they are committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the case.
A report is expected to be completed within 30 days. A spokesperson from the Municipality of Correia Pinto emphasized, “The Municipality of Correia Pinto reiterates its commitment to provide the best care for all citizens, and reinforces that, under no circumstances, can any professional issue certificates or statements without proper authentication of the patient’s condition.”
They added that all health professionals are consistently trained to prioritize the lives and well-being of their patients.
As of now, it remains unclear if Kiara’s parents will take legal action against the hospital for this grievous error.
