An Indian man who had been pronounced dead by doctors allegedly came back to life when the ambulance transporting him home to his family hit a deep pothole.

India’s pothole problem is a well-documented one. It annoys and exasperates millions of people every day, and on occasion, it can cause serious injuries and even death, but according to the family of an 80-year-old man from Haryana, potholes can also be miracles in disguise. Darshan Singh Brar allegedly owes his life to a pothole. The man had not been feeling well for several days, so one of his grandsons decided to take him to a hospital near his home. He was diagnosed with a severe chest infection which also took a toll on his pre-existing heart condition, and despite doctors’ best efforts, he was pronounced dead after four days on a ventilator. But that’s only the beginning of our story…

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“My brother in Patiala informed us around 9 am on Thursday about our grandfather’s death, and he was getting him to Nising (roughly 100 km away) in an ambulance for his last rites,” Balwan Singh, one of Brar’s grandchildren, told NDTV. “We had informed our relatives and other local residents who knew him and they had already gathered to mourn his passing. A tent had been set up and food had also been arranged for the mourners. We had also got wood for the cremation.”

But then something strange allegedly happened while the ambulance was traveling to Nising. Near Dhand, a village in Haryana’s Kaithal district, the car hit a deep pothole and moments later, Balwan’s brother, who was watching over his grandfather’s body, saw the 80-year-old man move his hand. He quickly checked for a pulse and, sensing one, alerted the driver to take them to the nearest hospital.

Doctors confirmed that Darshan Singh Brar was very much alive and referred him to a hospital in Nising, from where he was taken to the NP Rawal Hospital in Karnal. His condition is still critical, but he is fighting for his life.

“It is a miracle, now we are hoping that my grandfather recovers soon,” Balwan said. “Everyone who had gathered to mourn his death congratulated us, and we requested them to have the food we had arranged. It is God’s grace that he is now breathing and we are hoping he will get better.”

Doctors treating Brar at the hospital in Karnal could not confirm that he had previously died, as he was alive when he arrived there. They di say that while his condition is still very serious, the octogenarian is now breathing on his own.