The mother of a seven-month-old baby declared dead at the hospital discovered her little girl was still alive during her funeral.

Ivis Montoya realised that her child was still breathing inside a church in the city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Baby Keilin Johanna Ortiz Montoya, had been admitted to the Rivas hospital in Villanueva with convulsions, diarrhoea, severe hydration and blistered skin caused by a bacterial infection on August 3.

Despite intensive treatment at the hospital's paediatric unit, Keilin was pronounced dead three days later on Monday morning at 9am, and the corresponding death certificate was reportedly issued.

Heartbroken Ivis left the hospital with her supposedly dead baby in her arms and went to a cousin's house.

She said: 'I had no money to get home.'

Following a candle lit vigil during the night Keilin was taken to the church in nearby Dos Caminos for her funeral.

Ivis said that they placed her daughter's body on a chair in the church because 'we had no money for a coffin'.

It was at this point that the mother noticed that her daughter was still breathing.

Reluctant to return to the hospital that had declared her baby dead, she rushed to a local clinic.

Here, medical staff administered the baby with some medicine and a woman's support group persuaded her to take the baby back to the paediatric unit, according to local media.

Keilin was immediately taken to the intensive care unit where she is said to be in a serious condition.

The head of the hospital's Paediatric Department, Elba Campos, said that the incident was being investigated, but that it was too early to reach any conclusions.