Newborn, declared dead by Kozhikode hospital, found alive at burial

The baby boy was born prematurely and declared dead by the doctors at a private hospital in the city The baby was found moving when the relatives bathed him for the burial Doctors suspect that the baby had gone into a condition called ‘suspended animation’

In an incident that shocked doctors and medical experts, a newborn baby, who was certified dead, has been found alive when he was about to be buried.

The incident happened in Kozhikode on Tuesday. The baby boy, who was born prematurely and declared dead by the doctors at a private hospital in the city, was found moving when the relatives bathed him for the burial.

The relatives said that the baby's entire body moved when they touched his head, according to reports. One of the relatives had raised suspicions about the baby being alive even at the hospital.

The baby has now been shifted to the ICU of another hospital and is being monitored. Doctors suspect that the baby had gone into a condition called ‘suspended animation’. There might be no heartbeat or pulse during this phase, which could have happened in this case.

The Muslim woman, a Perambra native, was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday following labour pain. The doctors had certified that the baby boy died during delivery.