Scientific enquiry has armed us with the knowledge to realise
that if someone appears to rise from the dead, it's likely that the
person's 'death' was misdiagnosed rather than a 'miraculous
ressurection".
Easter miracle as dead man returns to life
David Sharrock, Ireland Correspondent
Declared dead by doctors, then rescued from the mortuary, Freddie
Maguire has made such a strong recovery that he has been nicknamed
Jesus Christ.
Mr Maguire, 47, from Dublins north inner city, was pronounced dead
by doctors at the Mater Hospital after they fought for 30 minutes
to save his life on Easter Day.
Mr Maguire, who has learning difficulties, was being treated for a
separate condition when he suffered a heart attack. He was moved to
the intensive care unit and treated by a team of medical staff, who
pronounced him dead.
Mr Maguires relatives were coming to terms with their loss when
they were informed that he was, in fact, alive. A member of staff
saw his hand move as he was about to be put into a mortuary
refrigerator.
Frances Maguire, his aunt, said: Hes all right now and hes back
the way he was before this terrible thing took place.
His recovery was very slow at first and hes still on medication,
but hes back home living with his uncle and he visits me every
night.
The doctors all pronounced him dead. Its disgraceful and very
upsetting. I dont think they should get away with it. Friends and
neighbours have dubbed Mr Maguire Jesus Christ because of his
seemingly miraculous resurrection at Easter.
Mrs Maguire was in the Mater Hospital herself receiving medical
attention when the incident occurred.
She said: Were a very close family. I was in the hospital at the
time and I wanted to check myself out of there after it, but the
family said it would be no good.
According to the Evening Herald newspaper, Mr Maguires brothers
travelled over from England immediately when told of his death and
funeral arrangements were underway.
My granddaughter came up to me that night when I was outside
having a smoke and she said, Freddie is alive. I nearly choked,
Mrs Maguire said. I didnt believe her until I saw him with my own
eyes.
They were about to put him into an ice box. Imagine if they had.
Thank God that nurse saw his hand moving.
I tell you, when I die I want to be buried with a mobile phone.
And they better make sure Im dead.
Mrs Maguire described her cousin as a lovely person and a real
hard grafter.
She added: He does the Lotto for everyone, hes worked handing out
newspapers, hes been an ice-cream man and hes worked in a bar
cellar. Hes tough and he never complains.
A spokesman for the hospital said that an internal investigation
was continuing and that its results would be made known at the end
of the month.
The investigation will examine what steps were taken to save Mr
Maguires life, what checks for vital signs were carried out and
when he was declared dead.
It will also look into when he was found to be alive and who made
the startling discovery.
A source close to the Mater Hospital said at the time: This man
certainly was pronounced dead and, sometime later, I understand he
was very much alive.
Needless to say, the hospital is very perturbed at what
happened.
Hey, Im back
Hit by a car in 1976, George Rodonaia, a Soviet doctor, was left
in a mortuary for three days. He showed obvious signs of life only
after a doctor began to make an incision in his stomach as part of
a postmortem examination. He claimed to be conscious for much of
the experience, saying: All about me there was darkness . . . I
remembered Descartess famous line, I think, therefore I am. And
it was then I knew I was still alive
Allison Burchell, an Australian, has been pronounced dead three
times, and woken up in a mortuary twice. She suffers from a
condition called narcolepsy-cataplexy, in which the heartbeat slows
and breathing becomes increasingly shallow. When she came round the
first time, 50 years ago at the age of 21, she scared a mortuary
technician by asking to be taken to hospital
The Victorian teenager George Hayward was struck by a pitchfork
while working on a farm. The wound became infected, he was
pronounced dead and then buried. After the funeral two doctors
decided to inspect his body in case he had died of an infectious
disease. Just before the postmortem began, Hayward opened his eyes.
He made a full recovery, and lived to the age of 84