Mumbai: In a jaw-dropping incident that has left residents of Nashik reeling, a 19-year-old youth, presumed dead and prepared for his final rites, stunned his family by moving and coughing just moments before his funeral.
Bhau Lachke, a resident of Trimbakeshwar taluka, was rushed back to a hospital where he now battles for life on ventilator support, leaving both relatives and doctors grappling with what some are calling a miracle and others a medical misstep.
A Shocking Turn Of Events
The extraordinary event unfolded on Friday when Lachke’s grieving family was making arrangements for his funeral. Days earlier, the teenager had suffered severe injuries in a road accident and was admitted to a private hospital in Adgaon. Doctors there reportedly declared him brain dead, a diagnosis that typically signals no hope of recovery. Heartbroken, his relatives began preparing for his last rites, believing they had lost him forever. But as they stood by his body, a sudden movement and a faint cough shattered the sombre atmosphere. “We were in complete shock,” said Gangaram Shinde, a relative. “He started moving and coughing. We rushed him to the district hospital immediately.”
Critical Condition And Controversy
Lachke is now under intensive care, with doctors describing his condition as critical. The incident has sparked both awe and controversy, with the private hospital at the centre of the storm. The hospital’s management has denied declaring Lachke dead, claiming the family misunderstood complex medical terminology. “He was never pronounced deceased,” a hospital spokesperson said, suggesting that confusion over the term ‘brain dead’ led to the premature funeral preparations. This assertion, however, has done little to quell questions about the accuracy of the initial diagnosis.
A Family’s Hope
For Lachke’s family, the incident is nothing short of miraculous. “We thought we’d lost him,” Shinde told reporters, his voice heavy with emotion. “To see him move again gave us hope, but we’re praying for his recovery as he’s still in grave danger.” The teenager’s survival, however fleeting, has gripped the community, with many calling it a rare case of life defying medical prognosis.
A Rare Phenomenon
This isn’t the first time such an incident has raised eyebrows in India. Similar cases, like that of Shankar Gombi in Karnataka in 2021, where a man declared brain dead showed signs of life just before a post-mortem, have highlighted the complexities of diagnosing brain death. Medical experts note that while brain death is a rigorous diagnosis involving multiple tests, miscommunication or errors can sometimes lead to harrowing situations like this one.
Questions Of Accountability
As Nashik buzzes with talk of miracles, the incident has also ignited a debate about medical accountability and the emotional toll on families caught in such extraordinary circumstances. Lachke’s loved ones are holding onto hope, praying that their ‘miracle’ youth pulls through against all odds.