A man in China was possibly minutes away from being cremated after undertakers noticed that his body bag was moving.
As shown in viral footage of the incident, which took place on Sunday afternoon (1 May), shows mortuary workers in protective clothes (Shanghai has been under a strict Covid lockdown for the past five weeks) appear to pull the bodybag out of a van and onto a trolley, where they quickly realise that the man is, shockingly, still alive.
"Alive! Did you see that? Alive!” says one.
“Do not cover him again!” says another.
One worker then walks over to other members of staff, as the elderly patient - who was a resident at the Shanghai Xinchangzheng Nursing Home - is wheeled back inside.
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The person filming called the incident a 'disgrace for human life'.
They said: "Now they're discussing what to do. Get them out of there; what else can you do? What you're doing is immoral.
"They're not even dead, and they're put in a van to go to the funeral home."
The Shanghai Supervisory Commission and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection say that five officials, including the director of the care home and a doctor, had vacated their roles and are being put under investigation. Another local Party official was reprimanded.
People have been outraged by the clip, with one user writing: "Care homes and nursing homes will be the last places for many elderly people, especially some lonely elderly people who have no choice."
A second added: "Who would dare send their parents to a care home now?
"And who would dare to live in a nursing home with peace of mind?"
Another commented: "This incident took place in one of China's most prosperous cities and happened to be filmed.
"How much is happening in other cities that is not caught on camera? Today, it's this man, in the future, it's us."
Another slammed: "God damn it! When looking at the negotiation, the reaction of the people in the nursing home must be knowing and intentional. If it is an accident, shouldn't the normal response be to rescue immediately?"
According to CNN, the the Putuo district authorities responded to the incident on Monday (2 May) and said that the man was now in a stable state.
The Shanghai Xinchangzheng Nursing Home has apologised for the incident.
The Guardian reports the funeral home praised its employees for realising that the person was still alive, and reportedly rewarded them with 5,000 yuan (£600) each.
Authorities said: "On the afternoon of May 1, reports were posted online that a so-called dead body being transferred from the Shanghai New Long March Care Home was found to show signs of life.
"Putuo district government ... launched an immediate investigation and sent the elderly man to receive treatment in hospital, where he is currently stable."
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Topics: China, World News
Anish Vij