A Portuguese man received the shock of his life when he discovered he had been officially declared dead for 13 years due to a bureaucratic blunder.
João, whose full name has not been disclosed, only realised the error when he tried to access his bank account and was told he was legally deceased.
How the Nightmare Began
The mistake dates back to 2011 when a man with the same name and birth date passed away. Authorities mistakenly marked João as deceased, wiping out his legal existence overnight.
"I couldn't believe it when the bank manager told me I was dead," João told local media. "I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't a ghost!"
The Domino Effect of Being 'Dead'
The error caused a cascade of problems:
- Bank accounts frozen
- Driving licence cancelled
- Social security benefits stopped
- Unable to legally work or travel
João spent years battling bureaucracy to prove he was alive, accumulating mountains of paperwork and legal fees.
A Living Nightmare
Even simple daily tasks became impossible challenges. "I couldn't even get a mobile phone contract," he explained. "Everywhere I went, the system said I didn't exist."
The situation only came to light when João attempted to withdraw money to pay for his mother's medical treatment. Bank staff refused, insisting they couldn't release funds from a dead man's account.
Fighting Back to Life
After a three-year legal battle, João finally had his living status restored in 2024. However, the ordeal has left lasting scars.
"I lost years of my life to this madness," he said. "No one should have to prove they're alive."
The case has sparked outrage in Portugal, with calls for reform of the country's civil registration system to prevent similar nightmares.
