Ever wandered what happens to your body when your die?
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Death. Typically, it’s one of those things that most of us would prefer to ignore and keep at the back of our minds.
But if you’re curious about what happens to us after we pass away, continue reading; this isn’t for the weak of heart.
Lianna Champ, the first female undertaker and embalmer in the UK, has discussed the procedure and given a thorough explanation of everything that occurs from the moment your heart stops beating till your funeral.
There are some things that are simply universal, such as our biological functions when we pass away, even though many people have different opinions on the afterlife or even whether there is one.
The specialist has therefore commented on the occurrence in order to shed light on all things ghastly.
Champ, 59, first encountered a dead body when only 15 years old.
She’s been handling 700 to 800 dead bodies a year ever since, so she obviously knows her thing.
The undertaker told the Metro that once the heart stops beating, the body’s energy completely comes to an end.
“It’s our energy and blood flow that keeps us warm, so the body will start to cool and it’ll go through a period of processes and changes, which is what we know as decomposition.”
A ‘few hours’ after death, rigor mortis sets in which is defined as a ‘chemical reaction that is caused by a lack of oxygen and biochemical changes in the body after someone has died’.
“This causes the muscles to stiffen and contract,” Champ explained.
The expert also debunked a widely held myth that claimed bones would break if limbs or fingers were moved when in rigour mortis.
What a lovely image.
But this is not the case.
Champ continued: “If somebody’s hand went stiff and you were to gently bend their fingers you would be breaking down the rigor mortis because it doesn’t last, it breaks down itself naturally after about 48 hours.
In other words, as we pass away, our bodies begin to degrade because the healthy bacteria inside of us also dies.
This enables the harmful bacteria to “start the natural process of breaking down the body.”
Champ is effectively tasked at decelerating this natural process down, explaining: “The reason we embalm is because it serves to slow down the decomposition process.
“Families can then see and spend time with their loved ones looking more like they once were, without the risk of infection and without any unpleasantness. It’s a temporary preservation treatment we give.”
And while the mere thought of handling a lifeless corpse can make many of us shudder, Champ claims that “people always think it’s more than it actually is.”
“It’s not very invasive there’s just a couple of incisions, but it’s very effective,” she concluded.
Even while that might be the case, it’s a profession that many people probably would want to stay away from.
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‘Dead’ Woman Suddenly Wakes Up On Way To Her Own Funeral
A ‘dead’ woman’s family was terrified when she abruptly came to while driving to a funeral.
On Thursday, June 29, Chataporn Sriphonla, 49, passed away while en route from a hospital to her home in the Thai district of Udon Thani.
When paramedics arrived, they feared she had stopped breathing and appeared to have died while being transported to the Ban Dung neighbourhood in a van.
Mali, Chataporn’s elderly mother, was understandably heartbroken and began calling family members to alert them of her death, which they later attributed to her struggle with liver cancer.
The bereaved family immediately began planning for her impending funeral service after quickly cremating her in accordance with Buddhist practise.
They purchased a casket and co-ordinated with temple staff for the ceremonies.
The van carrying Chataporn’s body was diverted from their home to the Wat Sri Phadung Pattana temple, where the corpse was going to be stored overnight.
However, the next series of events totally stunned the family when they found out the supposedly ‘dead’ woman suddenly gasped awake and opened her eyes in the vehicle.
Albeit understandably shocked by Chataporn’s miraculous revival, her mother Mali once again did the rounds of calling the family.
Only this time – to inform them that their relative was actually alive.
Chataporn was then rushed to the Ban Dung Crown Prince Hospital, where she is currently under medical supervision, accompanied by her daughter.
Mali said: “My daughter was being treated for cancer at the hospital, but doctors told us she only had a slim chance of survival.
“I wanted her to spend her last moments with the family, so I arranged for her to be taken back to our home.”
The mother went on to say she was ‘heartbroken’ to find out Chataporn had ‘died on the way home’.
She continued: “Then relatives said they were confused by the incident, but believe Chataporn had held on as she wanted to see her children before she died.”
Believe it or not – this is not the first time something like this has happened.
Chataporn’s story echoes a similarly bizarre incident that emerged earlier this month (9 June) in Ecuador, where Bella Montoya, 76, suddenly came back to life inside her coffin.
The senior had previously been declared dead by doctors, but shocked mourners when she began scratching at her casket during the wake.
Bella was then rushed to a hospital but sadly passed away just a week later.
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Man Who Died For Seven Minutes Explains What He Saw Before Being Brought Back
After going without life for seven minutes, a man remembered what he had witnessed before, thankfully, coming back to life.
Shiv Grewal, a 60-year-old actor and artist, has ended his role as Don Pedro in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Shortly after, on February 9, 2013, Shiv suffered a cardiac arrest while out for a meal with his wife Alison close to their southeast London home.
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Shiv had officially been dead for seven minutes before emergency personnel finally used CPR to bring him back to life.
When discussing that terrifying seven-minute ordeal, Shiv said to PA Real Life: “I knew, somehow, that I was dead. I was aware my brain was dying and crying out for help. But, at the same time, I felt things completely separate from my body. It was like I was in a void but could feel emotions and sensations.
“Despite knowing I was dead, I also knew that there was a chance of coming home.
“I also understood that I’d be reincarnated, but I didn’t want that just yet. I wanted to return to life, to the material world and to my wife. I demanded that I was coming back and I got my wish.”
Shiv experienced an unexpected cardiac arrest and reported feeling “pretty good” at the time.
But on the way back from his favourite French eatery in Peckham, he began to feel exhausted and had trouble speaking clearly.
Shiv opted to take a nap once he got home while Alison called NHS Direct for guidance because he had suddenly started to get quite cold.
“That was basically the last thing I remember,” said Shiv.
Shiv’s eyes slid back into his head as Alison was on the phone, forcing his wife to shout for an ambulance.
Thankfully, paramedics got on the scene in a matter of minutes and were able to revive Shiv, who claims to have undergone a “cosmic journey” during which he had the ability to choose between life and death.
He said: “I felt there was a whole set of possibilities, various lives and reincarnations that were being offered to me. But I didn’t want them. I made it very clear that I wanted to return to my body, to my time, to my wife and to go on living.
“I needed to be proactive. I said I was coming back. I said it as a demand not a request.”
Shiv underwent emergency surgery at Kings College Hospital to place a stent in his completely blocked main artery.
He then had cerebral hypoxia, which led to a month-long induced coma and left him with epilepsy.
