How can a heart continue beating even after death?

Brain death is not the death of the organism, only of consciousness. If the heart is beating life can be sustained until the heart stops. When the heart stops, the life of that person stops. After death the heart of that person beats on in the lives of those whose life stemmed from that person, in part. read more

Believe it or not, human hearts continue to beat after removal from the body for a short period. A turtle's heart can last much longer after removal, easily up to several hours. Interesting fact: Doctors define death as the point where the heart stops beating. read more

The heart would indeed continue to beat if it is separated from the body. The heart does need a blood supply, and relies on the lungs to oxygenate the blood. As such, the heart would soon stop beating if it was separated from the body. read more