A 16-year old boy, presumed dead while battling for life after a suicide bid, was found alive when his last rites were being performed by his family here today.
As part of the rites, as soon as the relatives poured milk in the mouth of boy, he suddenly started moving and coughing, to their surprise and joy, even as the pit was readied for burial, police said.
Surya, son of a mason of Old Ooty here, was immediately rushed back to the government hospital, where he is being treated and administered drips, they said.
The boy had consumed some chemical in a bid to end his life a week ago and was being treated at the hospital. As his condition deteriorated yesterday, he was put on ventilator support.
The family claimed that the duty doctor informed them that the boy would not survive and after death, post mortem had to be done since it was a medico-legal case.
Apparently keen to avoid post mortem and other formalities, the family members "forcibly" took the boy home and started preparing for the burial when he was found alive.
When contacted, the hospital staff maintained that the doctor had only informed that once the patient was removed from the ventilator, there was a risk of death.
Resident Medical Officer Dr Ravishankar later told reporters that the boy was recovering.
He said the family members forcibly shifted the boy and on reaching their home they presumed he was dead.
