A doctor has claimed that a drowned child astonishingly came back to life after his grandmother said a prayer.

The incident took place at the Sao Marcos Hospital, in Morro Agudo, in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, with local media reports on 10th April saying that the doctor had even signed the death certificate.

Picture shows pediatrician Marta Dornellas, undated. She said a boy named Davi was resurrected after his grandmother's prayer in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)

Paediatrician Dr Marta Dornellas said that the child, named Davi, inexplicably began showing signs of life after his grandmother began praying.

The doctor said that the boy was attended to by four doctors who tried to revive him on 13th March, without success.

He had drowned and reportedly arrived at the hospital with no vital signs.

But as they began preparing his body to be sent for an autopsy, he suddenly came to, despite being previously declared dead.

Dornellas said: "There were four doctors resuscitating this child and we were already completing the transfer of the body to the Forensic Medical Institute."

Picture shows the boy named Davi, undated. Pediatrician Marta Dornellas said he was resurrected after his grandmother's prayer in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)

That's when the boy's mother, who works as a nursing technician at the unit, asked to hold him one last time.

The doctor said: "We authorised it. She held the child in her arms, and the grandmother, who was not shedding a single tear, had the power of prayer."

She continued: "She prayed so strongly, so strongly, that all the technicians around her began to cry. The doctors, the nurses, everyone was crying.

"And this grandmother, with the power of God, with the power of prayer, was asking God for her grandson."

Then as the doctor ran her hand over the toddler's head, she felt a pulse.

The hospital was in shock, with the doctor explaining: "We did all the manoeuvres again, we tore up the death certificate paper. We resuscitated the child.

"The child turned pink again. His pupil, which was miotic, returned to reactive pupils, he moved his little foot, people!"

Davi suffered another cardiorespiratory arrest before being transferred to Santa Casa de Franca, where he remains hospitalised in serious condition.

His mother, not named, said: "Davi keeps fighting. I ask that you continue praying."

(Joseph Golder/newsX)