Brazil baby declared dead moves in body bag after 2 hours

A baby declared dead at a hospital in the interior of São Paulo state showed signs of life two hours after the death certificate was issued. Noah Gabriel da Cruz Santos, one month old, suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest on Wednesday, July 15, and his death was confirmed by doctors. A funeral home worker noticed movement while the infant was already inside a body bag.

According to the G1 news portal, the newborn’s mother said the employee went to the hospital to collect the body for burial procedures. The professional, however, identified that Noah was showing vital signs. “We are speechless, in ecstasy. Just contemplating our miracle and believing in the complete work,” said Letícia Cristina da Cruz Santos.

The family does not believe there was medical negligence and defended the hospital staff. The mother stated that she and her husband saw their son lifeless and with purple skin. “I saw the moment it happened. How the doctor stayed and how hard she fought to try to revive him,” she said, adding that Noah received good care during his 32 days of hospitalization at the facility.

“Sometimes I think we are dreaming, not just me, but I was talking to my husband a little while ago inside the hospital, looking at him there moving, kicking his little legs, eyes open. We are amazed. We are contemplating the greatness of God and admiring our warrior who continues to fight to get better. We believe in our complete miracle. A miracle is not explained, it is lived,” the mother added on social media.

Funeral home worker Regina Célia Paschoal also commented on the case. In an interview with EPTV, she said she noticed movement inside the bag used to transport bodies. “I opened it and the baby started moving even more, making a noise, because he wanted to breathe,” she said.

Santa Casa de Rio Claro stated that all technical and legal protocols for confirming death were strictly followed. According to the institution, no failures were identified in Noah’s care. In a statement, the hospital classified the episode as an “extraordinary event” and highlighted that the doctor in charge has 14 years of experience in neonatology.

“All cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers were initiated, conducted for approximately 45 minutes, in strict compliance with the protocols of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. Despite all the team’s efforts, the patient died in the late afternoon. About two hours after the confirmation of death, the person indicated by the family noticed the presence of vital signs and immediately alerted the hospital team. N.G.C.S was promptly re-evaluated, readmitted to the Neonatal ICU, and received all necessary intensive care.”

The hospital added: “All technical and legal protocols for confirming death were strictly followed, with no care failure or procedure that could be reviewed given the evidence at that time. The Brazilian protocol for confirming death is recognized for its high rigor and safety. Therefore, the institution respects all manifestations and interpretations of the case. For many, including professionals and family members, what happened is understood as a true miracle.”

Noah was born premature and was diagnosed with cleft palate, a congenital condition characterized by an opening in the roof of the mouth due to tissue malformation during early pregnancy. The condition affects feeding, speech, hearing, and dental development. After being revived, the baby was transferred to the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Bauru, where he will undergo surgery.