Cancer-stricken Burns jokes about reports of death at dramatic public appearance

STANSTEAD, Que. - Ex-NHL coach Pat Burns is making a dramatic public appearance today -- three weeks after his death was erroneously reported.

Burns joked about the confusion as he sat down for a news conference in Stanstead, Que.: "I'm still alive," he said.

Burns, who's been battling cancer, thought he had made his last public appearance in March when the project for a new Pat Burns Arena was announced.

But he's back today for the groundbreaking ceremony.

Numerous media outlets published erroneous reports last month about Burns' death -- and were forced to swiftly backtrack when they realized the error.