Back in 1915, a 30-year-old woman named Essie Dunbar suffered a seizure, and a doctor at the time officially declared her dead.
As is common when someone passes away, her family immediately arranged a funeral to lay her to rest. Just one day later, they placed Essie’s body in a coffin and began the burial process.
Her sister was fully expecting to find a lifeless body when the coffin was reopened. But what happened next completely shocked everyone who witnessed it.
According to the story, when the lid was removed, Essie suddenly sat up and gave her sister a big smile — as if she had never passed away in the first place.

It’s been said that the ministers who were conducting the service were also in such shock that they accidentally stumbled into the grave. One of them reportedly broke several bones during the chaos.
Fast forward to modern times — YouTuber Zack D. Films recently created a video that shows a visual simulation of what might have happened during that eerie and unforgettable moment.
Take a look at it here:
According to the book, and as shared by Snopes: “In the summer of 1915, Dr. D. K. Briggs of Blackville, South Carolina, was called to attend the thirty-year-old black woman Essie Dunbar, who had suffered an attack of epilepsy. He found no signs of life and declared her dead.”
“Although the ceremony was a lengthy one, with three preachers taking turns to perform, the sister had still not arrived when Essie’s coffin was lowered into its six-foot-deep grave.”

Despite the bizarre and terrifying experience, Essie continued to live for many more years. She eventually passed away for good in 1955, bringing her unbelievable story to a final close.