Paramedics declare a Michigan woman dead before her remains were taken to a cemetery – where staff found her alive, authorities said Monday.
The bizarre accident occurred on Sunday morning in Southfield, when local paramedics rushed to the aid of a 20-year-old unresponsive woman, officials said.
The paramedics believed the woman was dead and called a nearby hospital to share vital signs with a room doctor, who used this data to formally declare the death, said Bill Mullan, spokesman for Oakland County Medical Examiner.
Initial reporters then called the medical investigator to share the same information, leading a forensic pathologist to rule that there was nothing suspected or possible criminal, allowing her body to be sent to a funeral.
“In this instance, there was a medical history that said (medical researcher involvement) was not necessary,” Mullan told NBC News on Monday.
Mullan denied concerns about medical privacy, refusing to disclose the woman’s medical history that helped paramedics believe she was dead.
The woman’s body was taken to the James H. Cole Home for funerals in Detroit, where workers saw the presumed dead woman move.
“You could tell she was breathing,” said Cole spokeswoman Jocelyn Allen. “You could see a breast go up and down. They could see that.”
The woman was taken to Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit, where she was being treated Monday.
Southfield fire officials were still standing together on what happened Sunday.
“How did this happen? Everyone wants to know,” Southfield Fire Battalion Chief Chris Smith said.
Mullan refused to advise the paramedic, ER doctor as his agency’s forensic pathologist second in making the false finding of death.
“I do not have enough facts to make that call,” Mullan said, adding, “I would consider this a rare circumstance.”
