Man declared dead on Facebook actually alive and well

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

Dave Ettinger of Three Mile Plains awoke Wednesday morning Aug. 19 to discover he had passed away the previous night.

A recent death in the area had sparked speculation on the social network Facebook where one unnamed user announced Ettinger was the deceased in question.

Ettinger does not own a computer and does not have a Facebook account. He learned of his ‘death’ from a distraught sister. “She called me from Canning,” he said. “She was so worried because she read on Facebook that I died last night, but I told her I was alive and kicking.”

Reports of cause of death were numerous he was told, including heart attack.

Contacted family and friends

Ettinger spent most of that day contacting family and friends to reassure them, including his mother. “It’s weird to have to call your own mother to let her know you are still alive. “It’s a funny feeling to be told you are dead,” he added. “That doesn’t happen everyday.”

He hopes by now the rumour has been laid to rest. “The only thing I’d feel bad about in this is if my nephew found out about it and thought it was true.”

Although it made for a trying day, Ettinger said some good did come of the experience.

That afternoon people were stopping by his favourite haunt at a local convenience store to wish him well. “People were pulling up here just to see if it was true, if I was alive or dead. They were giving me hugs and crying. One thing about it,” he said. “I know who my friends are now.”