A new report from the
NYU Grossman School of Medicine revealed that “life flashing before a dying
person’s eyes” wasn’t just a deathbed myth.
Several cardiac arrest
patients gave recollections of what it felt like for them after their hearts
went off for more than 10 minutes.
“I caught glimpses of
my life and felt pride, love, joy, and sadness, all pouring into me,” one
recalled.
“I do remember a being
of light…standing near me. It was looming over me like a great tower of
strength, yet radiating only warmth and love,” another said.
Out of 53 survivors,
40% confirmed that they had memories and conscious thoughts while they were on
the brink of death.
“I was no longer in my
body. I floated without weight or physicality. I was above my body and directly
below the ceiling of the intensive therapy room. I observed the scene taking
place blow me,” a patient said.
A man who basically “died” for a few minutes
and was miraculously revived recalled “walking away through a canyon.”
“On either side of the
canyon were men in white robes with hoods hiding their faces. The last thing I
remember was all of them pointing to me,” he added.
“I was asked if I
wanted to come home…or wanted to come back here. I told them that my two sons
needed me and I had to go back. I was suddenly in my body again feeling my achy
joints flaring in pain.”
According to study
author Dr. Sam Parnia, human brain “is very robust” in near-death situations.
“There is a narrative
arc in people who are having a near-death experience. Their consciousness
becomes heightened, more vivid, and more sharp.”
“Somehow, in death,
their entire life comes to the fore. It’s a deep, purposeful, and meaningful
reevaluation of their lives.”
“These are not hallucinations. These are very real
experiences that occur in death,” he added.