In a distressing incident in Nicaragua, a family went through the harrowing experience of burying a loved one twice due to a belief that she might still be alive. María López, a 24-year-old woman, passed away on February 11 at New Dawn Hospital in Waspam, a town on the Caribbean coast, and was laid to rest the following day, as reported by the local media outlet SNC.
The events took a dramatic turn on February 15 when her family decided to exhume her body. This decision was prompted by a mysterious phone call to their daughter’s cell phone, claiming that López was still alive. Following the exhumation, López’s body was taken to her family’s home, where it underwent a traditional treatment involving salt, vinegar, and lemons before being placed on a bed for a vigil.
The situation escalated when family members speculated that López might have been pregnant, leading to a visit from a doctor from New Dawn Hospital. Despite the doctor’s confirmation of her death, the family remained unconvinced and sought the opinion of a traditional doctor, hoping to debunk the assertion of her demise. They noted signs of what they believed to be life, such as tears and sweat on López’s forehead.
In an attempt to witness a miraculous recovery, the family engaged in prayer services for five days. As López’s body began to show signs of decomposition, her parents and close relatives took her to a fasting and prayer center for a ceremony before ultimately reburying her on the following Monday.
This incident in Nicaragua follows another shocking event in Ecuador, where 76-year-old Bella Montoya startled her family by knocking from inside her coffin during her wake, after being presumed dead for five hours. Montoya eventually passed away from a stroke a week later, after being in intensive care. These cases highlight profound cultural beliefs and practices surrounding death, as well as the profound impact of grief and hope on the bereaved.