MEYERTON. -According to a press statement released by the Democratic Alliance (DA), A Meyerton family is angry and upset after being told that their daughter and sister was declared dead at the Kopanong Hospital in Vereeniging, only to find out that she is still alive.

DA MPL Jack Bloom says, “Last week  on Wednesday a policeman came to inform the family that 26-year-old Tracy Palesa Hugo had died. She had been taken earlier in the week to the hospital after suffering a stroke. They told family members across the country about her death, and posted it on Facebook.”

The family subsequently took an undertaker to the hospital to collect the body of their deceased where they discovered that the person was still alive and being treated in a ward.

“A nurse had  told them that Tracy’s body had already been wrapped for removal after being declared dead, but then it was discovered she was still alive. Other versions of what happened have been told to them, and they are confused about what really happened.

“It seems that the police were called to inform the family of Tracy’s supposed death because the hospital claims they did not have a phone number for the family, but the police were not informed later that Tracy had not actually died.” Bloom adds, further stating that the Hugo family is immensely traumatised by what happened and want to sue the hospital.

“They suffered for five days grieving over Tracy’s death when she was still alive. This is inexcusable negligence by the hospital. An inquiry must be held urgently into this distressing matter, and should make recommendations to ensure that nothing like this happens again in our hospitals.”

Sedibeng Ster has since submitted a media enquiry to the Department of Health.