In a shocking incident, a 17-year-old boy, who was presumed dead by his parents, woke up on the way to his funeral in Dharwad’s Managundi village yesterday. He was rushed to a private hospital where his condition is critical.

It is reported that the boy, identified as Kumar Marewad, was bitten by a stray dog one month ago, began to suffer from high fever, following which he was admitted to a Dharwad hospital. As his condition deteriorated, the teenager was put on ventilator.

Meanwhile, the doctors reportedly told Kumar’s relatives that he was critical and that he would not survive if life support was removed. Informing them that infection had spread in Kumar’s body and the doctors left the family to decide if they wanted to continue treatment. Later, the family decided to shift him home.

Noticing no body movement or breathing, Kumar’s relatives presumed him dead. They then asked the villagers to make arrangements for his funeral and headed straight to perform his last rites. Barely two kilometres from the village where the funeral was to take place, Kumar opened his eyes, moving his hands and legs and started breathing fast and was rushed to a hospital on Gokul Road.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mahesh Neelakhantannavar said: “Kumar is on ventilator. We suspect he suffers from meningoencephalitis, an infection caused due to dog bite.”