A case of mati-hidup-semula in Seberang Jaya

The Resurrection of Lazarus by Vincent van Gogh

A rare medical phenomenon known as the Lazarus Syndrome has now become the talk of (Seberang Jaya) town, in Penang.

Today's theStar reported that a 65-year-old who ‘died’ comes back to life two hours later.

Relating the incident, the man's son, known only as Wei, said he had rushed his father to hospital at about 11am yesterday when he stopped breathing at their home.

“The doctors performed CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation) and pronounced him dead an hour later. We then left for the police station when we received a call from a doctor at about 1.30pm,” Wei said.

They then rushed back to the hospital and saw him being transferred to the CCU (Cardiac Care Unit).

A hospital spokesperson said, “doctors pronounced the man dead, and after monitoring him for almost two hours we noticed that he suddenly began breathing. We then put him on a respirator.”

It is said that the man and his 70-year-old brother had a quarrel outside their house at about 10.30am. The man apparently sustained an injury on his right hand and collapsed shortly after returning home.

Michael Wilkinson was declared dead in 2009

The Lazarus Syndrome is very rare. According to The Telegraph report, there were only 38 recorded cases in the world up to June 2009.

In medical terms the syndrome refers to the spontaneous return of circulation once attempts at resuscitation had failed. In many cases the patient's breathing and heart rate would drop to an extremely low level before returning back to normal.

The syndrome takes its name from the biblical story of Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus.

In simple terms the Lazarus Syndrome is a case of mati-hidup-semula or coming back to life after being pronounced dead a few hours (or even a few years) earlier.

Other reads: The Lazarus Syndrome by Rodney Davies (book)

Lazarus Syndrome Q&A

Dead woman moves, breathes