Death row inmate wakes up in Tennessee after surviving lethal injection attempt

Christa Pike is awake and aware after surviving a failed execution attempt in Tennessee last month.

The Recovery

Pike, who is 50 years old, received two lethal doses of pentobarbital on September 30. Doctors and lawyers initially believed she was brain dead, but she regained consciousness and spoke on Tuesday. Her attorneys report that her first words after waking up were 'Where am I?' and 'Who are you?' She remains handcuffed to a hospital bed with burned and blistered arms, and she cannot yet move her arms or swallow.

Legal Battles

A judge in Nashville ordered the Tennessee Department of Correction to preserve all evidence from the death chamber, including drugs, syringes, IV lines, recordings, and emails. State officials argued the order was unnecessary because evidence had already been logged. Meanwhile, Governor Bill Lee called the incident deeply disturbing, ordered an official review, and delayed the state's only other scheduled execution for this year. The state prison chief also resigned following the event.

Context

Legal challenges over capital punishment frequently focus on the methods used by states to carry out executions. The Death Penalty Information Centre notes that Pike is the only known person to survive a lethal injection drug administration.