The stillborn baby who came back from the dead

After being pronounced dead and locked up in a freezing morgue for 12 hours, this miracle child let out a whimper at her mother's touch

A premature baby pronounced dead shocked her parents and doctors alike when she was found alive and well in a morgue's refrigerated drawer.
(Image credit: Courtesy Shutterstock)

Argentinian mother Analia Bouter just lived through every parent's worst nightmare — but lucky for her, it ended on an implausibly ecstatic note. Bouter's baby was delivered stillborn and pronounced dead on the spot. But miraculously, 12 hours later, the bereaved parents went to the morgue and found their baby girl very much alive. A guide to this bizarre tale:

What happened during the delivery?

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Then what happened?

After the baby was sent to a nearby morgue, the heartbroken parents insisted on seeing her. So about 12 hours after the birth, Bouter and Veron went to the refrigerated room in the morgue where their baby's body was kept. They opened the drawer, Bouter touched the infant's icy hand, and then "felt" the newborn look at her. Seeing that the baby was alive, Bouter fell to her knees. The little girl let out a cry.

And the baby was actually okay?

She was cold — a layer of ice had already formed over her body — but she was alive, breathing, and reportedly in good health. She didn't even need resuscitation. The parents aptly named her Luz Milagros, which means "miracles."

How could this possibly have happened?

It remains a mystery, and the Argentinian government has launched an investigation into the medical near-miss. "Every member of the team that was involved has some responsibility, so they will have to answer for this," said the region's undersecretary for health. Bouter, meanwhile, is just happy to have a healthy baby. "The joy of knowing she's alive is covering every other feeling," she said.

Sources: BBC, Metro, New York Daily News, Opposing Views, The Stir