Man declared dead transferred to mortuary wakes up in the colds

A heartbreaking and shocking story has emerged from Bungoma County after a man identified as Pharell Simiyu recounted how he narrowly escaped death following a terrifying illness allegedly triggered by eating meat that left his family convinced he had died.

In an incident that has left many people stunned, Simiyu reportedly became so critically ill that medical personnel transferred him to the mortuary, where he remained for nearly three hours. Unknown to his grieving relatives, however, he was still alive, and a remarkable discovery would eventually give him another chance at life.

According to Simiyu’s account, the trouble began when some traders in his village started selling beef at unusually low prices. While a kilogram of beef would ordinarily cost approximately KSh 400, the traders were reportedly offering it for as little as KSh 200.

The attractive prices drew the attention of several residents who saw an opportunity to purchase meat at half the usual cost. Simiyu’s family was among those who bought the discounted beef, unaware of the potential danger they could be exposing themselves to.

Reports indicated that the meat was allegedly obtained from cattle belonging to wealthy individuals, with some animals suspected to have been slaughtered without their owners’ permission.

On the fateful day, Simiyu’s family purchased roasted meat from a local trader and prepared it for a meal. At first, nothing appeared unusual. The meat reportedly tasted normal, and there was no immediate indication that something was wrong.

However, barely 10 to 20 minutes after eating, Simiyu began experiencing severe stomach pains. What initially appeared to be an ordinary stomach upset quickly developed into a frightening medical emergency.

His condition deteriorated rapidly as he started vomiting repeatedly and became extremely weak. By midnight, he was reportedly passing blood, leaving his relatives terrified as they struggled to understand what was happening to him.

The family desperately tried to find transport to rush him to hospital, but accessing emergency assistance proved difficult. Motorcycles were scarce in the area, and limited access to phones made it even harder to seek immediate help.

In their desperation, the relatives eventually managed to reach a nearby bus stage, where they waited for more than two hours before a matatu driver finally agreed to transport them.

Unfortunately, by the time Simiyu arrived at the hospital, his condition was reportedly extremely critical. His skin had changed colour, he was severely dehydrated, and his pulse was barely detectable.

Medical personnel attempted to save his life, but his condition continued to raise serious concerns. His limbs eventually stopped responding, and he was transferred to the mortuary, where he reportedly remained for close to three hours.

Meanwhile, back at home, his family had received the devastating news that he had died.

His mother, who was also reportedly experiencing diarrhoea after consuming the meat, together with other relatives, began mourning him and making arrangements for his burial. What they believed was the painful loss of their loved one was about to take an unexpected turn.

In a remarkable twist, someone checking the bodies at the mortuary reportedly noticed slight movement in Simiyu’s hand.

The discovery immediately raised alarm, prompting medical staff to return and examine him. To everyone’s surprise, further assessment reportedly confirmed that Simiyu was still alive.

Medical personnel immediately resumed efforts to treat him, giving the family a glimmer of hope after they had already believed their loved one was gone forever.

Against all odds, Simiyu eventually recovered from the terrifying ordeal.

Doctors reportedly suspected that the meat could have come from an animal that had received veterinary medication before dying. However, this explanation was not independently confirmed, and the exact cause of the illness remains unclear.

His experience has since highlighted the potential dangers of purchasing meat from unverified sources, particularly when unusually low prices raise questions about where the products came from.

The incident also serves as a reminder of the importance of proper veterinary inspection, lawful slaughter procedures and food safety standards before meat is released for public consumption.

For Simiyu’s family, the experience was undoubtedly traumatic. Having moved from desperately seeking medical assistance to mourning a loved one, only to discover that he was still alive, is an ordeal they are unlikely to forget.

His survival has turned what appeared to be a devastating family tragedy into an extraordinary story of hope, while raising important questions about food safety and emergency medical response in rural communities.