Teenager wakes up inside coffin during wake in Guatemala

A 15-year-old girl named Yuleidy Ixcotoyac was found alive inside her coffin during her own wake in the village of El Jocote, located in the Sacapulas region of the Quiché department in Guatemala. The event occurred on Saturday, October 10, 2026, after the teenager lost consciousness while traveling in a vehicle with her father. Her family, believing her to be deceased, proceeded with funeral preparations without obtaining an official medical confirmation of death.

Footage circulating on social media shows the girl moving and opening her eyes, prompting those in attendance to rush to her aid amidst scenes of emotional distress and relief. The lack of prior medical examination has been identified as a critical factor in this incident, as confirmed by statements from the girl's father. Medical authorities have since launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the misdiagnosis and to clarify the timeline of events that led to this situation.