Wake turns to joyful party as deceased awakes

THE funeral of a 28-yearold waiter in southern Egypt turned into a celebration when he woke up after being declared dead.

Hospital officials had pronounced Hamdi Hafez al-nubi, who came from the village of Naga al-simman in Luxor, dead after he suffered a heart attack while working.

His family says grieving relatives took him home and, according to Islamic tradition, washed his body and prepared him for burial on Friday evening.

A doctor sent to sign the death certificate found it strange his body was still warm. On closer examination, she discovered he was still alive.

His mother fainted on hearing the good news.

With the doctor’s help, both al-nubi and his mother were awakened and were soon joyfully celebrating with guests who had initially expected to mourn. — Sapa-ap