Dad's horror after 'dead' baby girl's hand moves inside coffin at funeral

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A horrified dad has told how he discovered his baby girl was alive as she lay in her coffin during her funeral.

Heartbroken Cristiano Santos has hit out at the hospital that declared her dead after the eight-month-old baby grabbed the hand of a relative.

Just two hours after Kiara was pronounced dead, funeral director Aureo Arruda Ramos had collected her body from the morgue.

The baby’s parents began the grim task of making preparations for Kiara's funeral later that day.

They brought a set of clothes for the baby to wear in her coffin ahead of the service which began at 7pm, just 16 hours after Kiara had been declared dead.

The funeral got underway at 7pm that same day - but the service was brought to an abrupt halt when one attendee noticed the baby's hand was moving in her open coffin.

When a relative touched Kiara's fingers, the eight-month-old baby gripped them tightly.

A nearby pharmacist found she was still breathing and called the emergency services.

Kiara was rushed to hospital again - around 16 hours after doctors thought she'd died - but medics pronounced life extinct again.

The infant had a pulse and an oxygen saturation level of 84 per cent, which leaves patients in need to instant critical care.

They had also found no trace of rigor mortis which usually stiffens a body between six and eight hours after death.

Her heartbroken dad Cristiano Santos has now said: "We were devastated already. Then there came a little bit of hope, but then this ended up happening."

The shocking incident happened after Kiara's body was take from Faustino Riscarolli Hospital Foundation in Correia Pinto, in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, to the funeral parlour.

The hospital, now facing an investigation by Brazil's specialist Scientific Police, admitted that they had declared the child died 16 hours earlier and then confirmed the death again later when the child was once again brought back.

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Correia Pinto City Hall later apologised to Kiara's family and promised a full investigation with a report in 30 days.

A spokesperson said: "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. In addition, all health professionals are constantly oriented and trained, ensuring that people's lives and well-being are always the priority."

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