Maharashtra: Man Declared Dead Revives on Way to Cremation, Leaves Family Stunned

Kolhapur, 2nd January 2025: In a shocking turn of events, a 65-year-old man, declared dead after a heart attack, miraculously came back to life while being transported for his funeral. The incident has left his family and the local community astounded.

Pandurang Ulpe, a resident of Kasba Bawda in Kolhapur, was on his way to be cremated on December 16 when the ambulance carrying him hit a speed breaker. To the disbelief of his family, they noticed his fingers twitching.

“We couldn’t believe it. My grandfather was declared dead, and we were heading for his last rites. When the ambulance jolted over the speed breaker, we saw his fingers move. We immediately checked his pulse and found it beating faintly,” said his grandson, Omkar Ramane.

Ulpe’s family immediately turned the ambulance around and rushed him back to the hospital. After being stabilized by doctors, he was eventually discharged on December 30, fully recovered. A video of his return home, showing him walking back escorted by cheering relatives, has since gone viral on social media.

On December 16, Ulpe had just returned home from his farm when he began feeling uneasy and vomiting. His wife called for help, and he was rushed to a private hospital in Kasba Bawda.

“The doctors there said it was a heart attack and recommended transferring him to another hospital. At the second hospital, he vomited blood several times, and an ECG was performed. That’s when they declared him dead,” Ramane recounted.

The family, devastated by the diagnosis, cleared the hospital bills and began making arrangements for his funeral. However, their grief turned to shock and hope when they noticed signs of life during the journey to the crematorium.

Ulpe was immediately taken to CPR Hospital, but due to a lack of available beds, the ambulance was redirected to DY Patil Hospital.

A doctor at DY Patil Hospital detailed the critical condition in which Ulpe arrived. “When he was brought to us, he was on the verge of collapse. We performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to restore blood flow and placed him on a ventilator. The ECG revealed a blockage, so we transferred him to another hospital for angioplasty. Within two days, he showed significant improvement,” the doctor said.

Ulpe’s full recovery and subsequent discharge have been described as nothing short of miraculous.

The family has not disclosed the name of the hospital or doctors who initially declared him dead. However, the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation has taken note of the incident.

“We will investigate this entire episode to ensure accountability and prevent such occurrences in the future,” said Prakash Pavra, Chief Health Officer at Kolhapur Municipal Corporation.