Death is the kind of subject that’s both terrifying and endlessly fascinating. We simply don’t know what’s waiting on the other side, and it’s precisely that mystery that keeps us guessing. For most of us, the only way to find out is to cross that line and never come back.
But a rare group of people have done exactly that, at least briefly—and by some miracle, returned to tell the tale. These are the men and women who were clinically dead, resuscitated, and lived to describe what they witnessed in those fleeting moments. They took to Reddit to share their stories, and we’ve rounded up the most striking ones below.
#41
Not me, but my coworker had a massive heart attack and died for a few moments. He had made it to the hospital, so he survived. I asked him what it was like, and he said it was like nothing. One moment he was talking to a nurse, and then everything was just black. He said he woke up few moments later and didn't even know what had happened as the nurses worked on him. I find this to be really comforting, to be honest - the not being aware that you died bit.
Report
5points
#42
I almost drown in the bathtub, I fell asleep, I remember the most beautiful, brightest tropical colours, something I've never seen before. Like a rainforest with toucans, but it was like an abstract painting. And then I heard a loud scream or sound and got up from under the water.
Report
5points
#43
I always get into these comments way too late. But I’ll tell it regardless.
I have sick sinus syndrome, that means my heart gets out-of-sync and stop beating. Then my body convulses and my heart starts again and it looks like a seizure. When I go to the hospital after, no test reveals what’s actually happening. But then one Saturday I felt dizzy again and my girlfriend drove me to the hospital and I flatlined on the hospital bed a couple more times, and they realized that my heart was stopping. Now I have a pacemaker.
Now, what does it feel like when I was “dead” for a few minutes at a time? It was just black. I have no memory of it at all. In fact, it was very easy to do. I always say dying is very easy, but coming back is very difficult. Because coming back is when all the blood rushes back to your brain. And it’s like having 1000 dreams at once. It’s very overwhelming. And usually when I come back I am screaming because it is so terrifying. I don’t recommend it.
But being dead? Easiest thing you can do.
I have sick sinus syndrome, that means my heart gets out-of-sync and stop beating. Then my body convulses and my heart starts again and it looks like a seizure. When I go to the hospital after, no test reveals what’s actually happening. But then one Saturday I felt dizzy again and my girlfriend drove me to the hospital and I flatlined on the hospital bed a couple more times, and they realized that my heart was stopping. Now I have a pacemaker.
Now, what does it feel like when I was “dead” for a few minutes at a time? It was just black. I have no memory of it at all. In fact, it was very easy to do. I always say dying is very easy, but coming back is very difficult. Because coming back is when all the blood rushes back to your brain. And it’s like having 1000 dreams at once. It’s very overwhelming. And usually when I come back I am screaming because it is so terrifying. I don’t recommend it.
But being dead? Easiest thing you can do.
Report
5points
#44
I don't have a story but it's just some thoughts. I hope that's OK. My Dad is about to die of cancer and he has really been suffering. I hope so much that as he passes he will see something beautiful and feel peace, just like a lot of you described. I just really wonder, do we really see the after life or is it maybe some kind of biological process that makes you see those visions?
Report
5points
#45
When I was 15 1/2 years old I had a motorcycle permit and a small Honda that I rode daily. I was riding to high school on a backroad and lost control and flew 20 feet over the handlebars. While I was in the air, time stood still and my life flashed before my eyes. Literally. My mind brought up these snap shots of my life one after the other…I can’t tell you how many, but each one was very clear and recognizable. For example, one of the snapshots was my mom standing behind me pulling up my pants (dressing me) when I was 3 years old. Your life really does flash before your eyes.
Forgot to add….ended up in the emergency room with a broken collarbone.
Forgot to add….ended up in the emergency room with a broken collarbone.
Report
5points
#46
A pit of lava and fire, sort of in a grid formation. Like a massive tictac toe board of fire. Monsters would come up from the pit to try and grab me. It was terrifying . I was walking along the grid looking for a way out.
I was only 5 when this happened.
I was only 5 when this happened.
Report
5points
#47
I saw these dark shapes which were never ending and imposing on me. I had something heavy In my right hand to swing at them but they kept coming.
I was only 7 stone and had 4 nurses sitting on me..I managed to give 2 of them black eyes fighting my way out of the black monsters.
There was no light or tunnel...just dark monster shapes who were hard to cut through..and endless.
I was only 7 stone and had 4 nurses sitting on me..I managed to give 2 of them black eyes fighting my way out of the black monsters.
There was no light or tunnel...just dark monster shapes who were hard to cut through..and endless.
Report
5points
#48
Mostly noise, heard everything, darkness, time stopped.
4points
#49
When I had my near death experience, I had awful delusions and hallucinations. I can see why some people really believe they've seen hell.
I see it as just my consciousness breaking down toward the end, and showing me my fears. I never actually died, died, but I was basically dead on an operating table.
It felt evil and full of fear. I wish I got those ones where it's peaceful, and I see relatives. I was in straight up fear the whole time, and still can't place the timeline or what I actually saw. I don't know how long it lasted or when it began or stopped.
I see it as just my consciousness breaking down toward the end, and showing me my fears. I never actually died, died, but I was basically dead on an operating table.
It felt evil and full of fear. I wish I got those ones where it's peaceful, and I see relatives. I was in straight up fear the whole time, and still can't place the timeline or what I actually saw. I don't know how long it lasted or when it began or stopped.
Report
4points
#50
These answers are either “nothing” or some 2001 Space Odyssey stuff that actually sound fascinating.
Report
4points
#51
My mom "died" and had to be resuscitated twice during my 38-hour childbirth. I've asked her about it, and she said there was no near-death experience, and no memory of "the other side".
Report
4points
#52
Space. Like a tunnel made of space. Not in space, mind you, made of space. There were lights flashing by but I couldn't focus on them. Then someone told me I wasnt supposed to be able to be there I came rushing back to my physical body.
Report
4points
#53
I drowned when I was 6 years old(31 now) In a pond when I was left unattended by my parents and grandfather while fishing. Thankfully my grandfather was somewhat nearby to notice I wasn't on the dock anymore. I remember the frear, agony and taste of the water to this day and still get that panic if I choke on my spit or drink. They didn't know how long I was gone for but my grandfather said it took about a minute to bring me back after he found me under the dock. As for my experience from the other side, I remember little flashes of light shortly after my panic stopped and vision faded in the already dark water I then felt numbness then nothing. Then of course the pain and panic and choking of being revived on the dock was about just as bad as the drowning. I didn't even want to go fishing. The event and explained experience ignited religion in my parents as they convinced me I went to hell not heaven... I've been an atheist for years now and don't really have that fear of death anymore.
Report
4points
#54
I had the flu that developed into pneumonia with an infected packet inside my lung that required emergency surgery to remove. I made my peace with god going into the er but within 48 hours they had pumped four liters of puss out of my left lung. They removed 1/5 to a 1/4 of the lung last week. I made my peace with god and passed out and awoke when they were sticking a hose in. Between my ribs to pump out the puss. It was 7 liters over two weeks with intense antibiotics and a quarantine bc it was so aggressive. I was septic as my kidneys had almost shut down completely. I was peeing blood.
I saw nothing but dreamed of my kids and my family when I was passed out before the emergency surgery. I cried thinking I was going to die at 43 never to hold my kids again since they live in Brazil when I woke upx.
I saw nothing but dreamed of my kids and my family when I was passed out before the emergency surgery. I cried thinking I was going to die at 43 never to hold my kids again since they live in Brazil when I woke upx.
Report
4points
#55
Longer than you think.
Old friends, family. Mostly strangers. I spoke to my grandfather who's been dead for 30 years. He said "it's eternity in there".
Old friends, family. Mostly strangers. I spoke to my grandfather who's been dead for 30 years. He said "it's eternity in there".
Report
3points
#57
Not sure if I actually “died”, but a couple years ago, on thanksgiving night, I got up to take some heartburn medicine, in the kitchen; I remember looking at the clock on the stove, it was 11:14. Then I got very dizzy, and the next thing I knew, I was getting up off the floor. No pain, just like I woke up from a pleasant sleep. No idea how I didn’t hit my head on the hard floor. Noticed the clock now said 11:40. So I really don’t know what happened, but I definitely lost some time there.
Report
3points
#58
Done this post in the past twelve year account
Left for dead in a hit and run that fractured my skull and broke my c4-c6 vertebrae
Clinically dead for about 90 seconds is what I was told
There isn’t anything
It’s like describing color to a blind person
No tunnel of light no choir of passed family
No brimstone or terror
It’s like asking someone what it’s like before they are born.
Left for dead in a hit and run that fractured my skull and broke my c4-c6 vertebrae
Clinically dead for about 90 seconds is what I was told
There isn’t anything
It’s like describing color to a blind person
No tunnel of light no choir of passed family
No brimstone or terror
It’s like asking someone what it’s like before they are born.
Report
2points