CURRENT REPORT BLOG A crowd gathered outside CEBEC Hospital’s mortuary in Douala, Cameroon, when a teenager, initially declared dead from drowning after swimming at Bellevue Hotel on Jan. 28, was found seated outside the mortuary eight days later. The mortuary attendants discovered the 17-year-old, who had been deposited there after drowning, sitting in a chair on Feb. 5, wearing a white robe and underwear. The shocking revelation prompted onlookers to gather outside the mortuary, leading to speculation and disbelief among witnesses. The head mortician, Louis Maries Mbella, described how the teen was found sitting outside, seemingly alive, with his eyes closed and smiling.
Despite the surprise, the deceased’s mother, Catherine Kouete, expressed skepticism about the incident, questioning how her son could move and speak after spending a week in the mortuary. Chief Mortician Louis Mbella, however, stated that such unusual occurrences had happened before, with bodies sometimes shifting from their original positions. Traditional rites were performed, burning the clothes, underwear, and socks found on the teen after his unusual discovery. The body was then returned to the mortuary.
