Brazilian man surprises family and friends by attending his own funeral after relatives misidentified him at morgue.


SANTO ANTONIO DA PLATINA, BRAZIL TV RECORD - A 59-year-old Brazilian bricklayer shocked his family and friends by turning up at his own funeral on Monday (November 2) after being reported dead in a car crash in the southern Brazilian city of Santo Antonio da Platina.
The confusion started when Ademir Jorge Goncalves' relatives mistook him for a man who was killed in a Sunday night car crash on a highway.

Following Brazil's tradition, the funeral was held on the day after, which happened to be the Day of the Dead Holiday, also known as All Souls Day, when Brazilians flock to cemeteries to honour the dead.

Funeral agent Natanael Honorato who made the arrangements for the ceremony said Goncalves was popular in the city.

"The dead was the popular 'Typhoon'. (His name was) Ademir, but he was known as 'Typhoon'. (Reporter asks: And the family received the news right away?) Right away," he said.

The news about Goncalves' death were announced in a local radio station and quickly spread around the small town.

Goncalves' roommate, Ciro Alameda, said he had had an ironic conversation with his friend a couple of days before.

"I told him: 'Tomorrow is a good day for you to die because it's All Souls Day so you can take advantage of it and go along with all the souls'" (Reporter replies: You told him that?) "I did. When I heard about the news, I thought: 'My stupid mouth!'" he said.

The family misidentified the body in the morgue because the corpse was badly disfigured, but dressed in similar clothing.

Goncalves' sister, Vera Lucia Goncalves said she really thought it was her bother.

"He was there (in the morgue) just like they found him on the highway. So he was very similar to my brother. I thought he was my brother. To make mistakes is human," she said.

Eventually, Goncalves', who had actually spent the night drinking with his friends at a truck stop, was spotted on Monday morning on the street and rushed to his funeral as soon as he heard about the mix-up.

Goncalves' other sister, Araldina Goncalves, said it took her a while to believe that her brother was really alive.

"(Ademir Goncalves) Arrived (at the funeral), hugged me, I talked to him. (Reporter asks: Then you were sure?) Then I was sure he (the dead man in the coffin) wasn't him," she said.

The "Typhoon" said everyone was surprised by his sudden show.

"I arrived at the funeral and they all went crazy"

"They thought I was a ghost!" he said laughing.

The body was correctly identified later on Monday and has already been buried in another state.