Man Survives 48 Hours in Morgue Ice Box After Doctors Declared Him Dead
In a harrowing tale of survival, Sipho William Mdletshe, a man in his 20s from South Africa, endured 48 hours trapped in a morgue ice box after medical professionals mistakenly declared him dead following a serious car crash. The incident, which occurred in 1993, highlights a terrifying case of misdiagnosis that nearly cost him his life.
The Fatal Crash and Mistaken Death
Sipho William Mdletshe was involved in a devastating car accident alongside his partner in the township of Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg. The crash left him unconscious, and medics, assessing his condition, erroneously pronounced him deceased. As per standard procedure, his body was transported to a mortuary and placed in cold storage, with his fiancée left to grieve what she believed was an irreversible loss.
A Chilling Awakening in the Morgue
Two days later, the story took a dramatic turn when workers at the morgue heard unsettling noises emanating from one of the metal drawers. Upon investigation, they were shocked to discover Mdletshe alive and conscious, having regained awareness inside the freezing compartment. According to published reports, he slowly awoke from his unconscious state, realized his dire surroundings, and began shouting for help, an act that ultimately saved his life from a grim fate.
Aftermath and Supernatural Fears
However, Mdletshe's ordeal did not end with his rescue. When he attempted to reconnect with his fiancée, who had sustained injuries in the same crash, she reportedly recoiled in fear. Having been informed of his death, she believed he was something other than human, even suspecting he might be a zombie returned from the dead. This reaction underscores the profound psychological impact of such traumatic events on loved ones.
Historical Cases of Premature Burial
This incident is not isolated in history. In a similar case from 1915, Essie Dunbar, a 30-year-old woman in South Carolina, USA, was buried after being declared dead from an epileptic seizure. Her sister, arriving late to the funeral, requested the coffin be exhumed for a final viewing. To everyone's astonishment, Essie was found alive and smiling inside the coffin. The ministers panicked, with one falling into the grave and breaking ribs, while her family fled, fearing a supernatural occurrence. Remarkably, Essie later resumed a normal life, working in fields and living independently for decades.
Recent Incidents of Mistaken Death
More recently, in a case from last year, an elderly woman declared dead at a hospital in Palma, Majorca, was discovered to have a pulse while en route to her funeral. Staff at the Son Valenti funeral parlour were horrified to find her moving her fingers, prompting paramedics to rush her back to Juan March de Bunyola Hospital. These stories collectively raise critical questions about medical protocols and the accuracy of death declarations.
These chilling accounts serve as stark reminders of the fragility of life and the potential for human error in medical settings. They highlight the need for rigorous checks and balances to prevent such terrifying ordeals, where individuals are prematurely consigned to the grave or morgue. As technology and practices evolve, ensuring accurate diagnosis remains paramount to avoid these nightmarish scenarios.
