A woman in southeastern China who was mistaken for dead and nearly cremated after falling into a coma has rebuilt her life as a painter.
Chen Cuiju, 49, grew up in a poor rural family in Guizhou province. In 1995, aged 18, she moved to Dongguan, Guangdong province, to work in a factory, but the gruelling hours and harsh conditions left her severely malnourished.
One day, while suffering from a fever and walking alone by a river, Chen collapsed and lost consciousness, according to the Guizhou Metropolitan Daily.
Days later, a boatman found her lying by the riverbank. Covered in dirt and barely breathing, Chen was mistaken for an unidentified corpse because she had no identification documents and was taken to a funeral home.
In July that year, as a worker surnamed He was preparing to cremate her, he noticed a slight movement in her foot. Realising she was still alive, he alerted the police and rushed Chen to the hospital.
Doctors reportedly diagnosed her with severe malnutrition, dehydration, and multiple organ failure. Despite her lack of identification, money or relatives nearby, the hospital continued treatment and covered her medical expenses.