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Woman gives birth while dead, comes back to life

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She underwent an emergency postmortem caesarean section

A pregnant teacher has given birth while dead before being brought back to life in the US.

Erica Nigrelli’s heart stopped after she collapsed in the hallway of Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas. She was 36 weeks pregnant.

The International Business Times reports Ms Nigrelli’s colleagues performed CPR and used a defibrillator to jump-start her heart but her heart still wasn’t beating when paramedics arrived.

Ms Nigrelli was taken to a nearby hospital where an emergency postmortem caesarean section was carried out and baby Elayna was born.

Doctors diagnosed Ms Nigelli with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick.

Both mother and baby were taken to intensive care for several weeks and are now understood to be stable and well.

Ms Nigrelli said her baby was “a normal baby” despite being born while her mother’s heart was not beating.

“Apparently I told her I feel very faint and I put my head down and I essentially just passed out,” she told Keye TV.

Her husband Nathan was two doors down when his wife collapsed. Clinical assistant Maxine Reeves told Click 2 Houston he was “freaking out” and saying “save my wife, save my wife.”

Her co-workers have been credited with saving both of their lives.

Ms Nigrelli’s coworkers are understood to have made Mr Nigrelli leave the room while they used a defibrillator.

He remains emotional about the fear of losing his wife and baby.

“Your daughter, your wife – your whole entire reason for being is on the ground,” he said.

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