Relatives of an 80-year-old man have claimed he was still alive when the funeral company came to take his body away after being certified dead by the clinic where he had reportedly spent his ‘final days’.
The incident took place in the municipality of Ponedera in the northern Colombian department of Atlantico after Candelario Gutierrez Hernandez had spent his final days hospitalised in a clinic in the city of Barranquilla with breathing problems.
His death was confirmed at 7am and the 80-year-old man’s family were issued with his death certificate, according to reports.
His daughter, surnamed Gutierrez Fontalvo, told local media: “We were told he had died of natural causes and we were given the death certificate. His corpse was left in a body bag at the clinic.”
The family returned home to Ponedera at around 3pm and called the funeral home to collect the body.
The daughter said: “When the undertakers arrived, they called to tell us he was still alive. We immediately called the hospital and the paramedics told us he was still alive.
“Several doctors checked him and told us the same. He was still alive.
“We went there and saw that he had his eyes open and was moving his hands, he was still warm.
The victim’s niece Luzneira Gutierrez said: “When I touched him, he cried, opened his eyes and closed them. He then opened his eyes again and I told my family, ‘uncle is still alive’.”
According to reports, the elderly man finally died at around 6.30pm.
The clinic that allegedly issued his premature death certificate has yet to comment on the matter officially but have promised to issue a press release soon.
It is unclear whether the family plans to take legal action against the clinic or if the local authorities are investigating the incident.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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