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Woman In Ecuador, 76, Knocks On Coffin During Wake & Sparks Investigation Into Local Hospital (Video)

A memorial service quickly became an emergency when a deceased woman, 76, knocked on her coffin. According to a report by the Associated Press, a local hospital in Ecuador had declared Bella Montoyadead.Now, government officials are investigating to gain answers about how this happened.

Video obtained by news outlets shows, includingABC7,shows emergency personnel removing the woman from the brown coffin into an ambulance. Several people stood inside the funeral home where the memorial service was held and outside surrounding the medical vehicle.

Her son, Gilberto Barbera, explained to the press how they discovered his mother was still alive. However, it’s unclear if the coffin was open or closed when Bella started making noises.

“There were about 20 of us there. After about five hours of the wake, the coffin started to make sounds. My mom was wrapped in sheets and hitting the coffin, and when we approached, we could see that she was breathing heavily,” Gilberto said.

Three people joined the woman in the ambulance. The video identifies one of them as the affected’s son. This went down last Friday (June 9) in Babahoyo, Ecuador.

Here’s What Reportedly Happened At The Educador Hospital

Bella was taken to Martn Icaza Hospital on June 9 for stroke and cardiopulmonary arrest symptoms. Her son says she was unconscious when the hospital admitted her.

An unidentified doctor on duty reportedly made resuscitation efforts but ultimately decided to call Bella’s death when she “did not respond.” A doctor later turned over Bella’s identity documents and a death certificate to the son. It’s unclear if the doctor who delivered the news is the same one who declared it.

However, Ecuador’s Health Ministry is investigating the medical staff involved in Bella’s care on Friday. A statement obtained byAPsays a technical committee is also reviewing the hospital’s process for death certificates.

Meanwhile, Bella was reportedly in the intensive care unit as of Monday. However, her condition appears to be serious. Her son, Barbera, tellsAPthere’s little hope for a positive outcome.

This is a developing story.

Cassandra Santiago

Cassandra Santiago is a multimedia journalist, editor, and editorial strategist with over a decade of experience shaping conversations across arts, entertainment, culture, and global news. A graduate of the University of Iowa, she has built a cross-platform career spanning newspapers, magazines, radio, and digital media. She joined The Shade Room five years ago and currently serves as a Senior Editor, where she leads editorial direction, oversees exclusive coverage, and trains and edits a team of writers. Cassandra has played a key role in developing high-impact content and editorial strategies for an audience of more than 30 million, contributing to platform growth, engagement, and monetization across multiple channels. In addition to her leadership role, she remains a daily contributor, with her articles generating more than 41 million views since 2023. Beyond The Shade Room, Cassandra offers freelance social media strategy services, speaks on the influence and impact of Black media at public panels, and owns Did It For You, an event design company in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. She is Poynter Institute–certified and was named to the DMV’s 35 Under 35 list in 2024.

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