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Workers in a funeral were given the fright of their lives when a ‘body’ they were about to embalm started moving.

The 78-year-old man came ‘back from the dead’, after regaining consciousness hours after being declared deceased by a coroner.

Walter Williams, of Mississippi, America, woke up in a body bag at a funeral home and began kicking.

Once workers at the Porter and Sons Funeral Home in Lexington had recovered from their shock, they were then faced with the task of telling Mr Williams’ relatives that he had not in fact died.

Mr Williams’ nephew Eddie Hester said: “I stood there and watched them put him in a body bag and zip it up.”

Holmes County Sheriff Willie March added: “I asked the coroner what happened, and the only thing he could say is that it’s a miracle.”

It is thought the confusion arose after Mr Williams’ pacemaker stopped while his pulse was checked, before re-starting a little while later.

Relatives said that Mr Williams had told them he was pleased to still be alive.

Mr Williams’ daughter Martha Lewis said: “Seemed like he had more life in him again.

“It was not my daddy’s time.

“I don’t know how much longer he’s going to grace us and bless us with his presence, but hallelujah, we thank him right now.”

Byron Porter, of Porter and Sons Funeral Home: “He was not dead. Long story short.”

•Source: Daily Express (London),

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