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4498
qualitative
journal
Bonenfant, Richard J. "A Child's Encounter with the Devil: An Unusual Near-Death Experience with Both Blissful and Frightening Elements." Journal of Near-Death Studies 20, no. 2 (Winter 2001): 87-100.
Journal of Near-Death Studies Vol. 20 No. 2 Pages 87-100 2001
1995
1995-06-10
2001
6
M
Scott, a 6-year-old boy, experienced a complex NDE following a severe car accident on June 10, 1995. He was struck by a car after darting out from behind an ice cream truck, causing him to somersault through the air and land 25 feet away with no pulse. His mother, a hospice nurse, found him appearing dead with waxy bloodless skin. Scott suffered multiple injuries including a basilar skull fracture, perforated eardrum, fractured pelvis, concussion, and extended oxygen deprivation.
During his unconscious state, Scott experienced bilocation of consciousness, simultaneously being in his body and observing the accident from a nearby tree about 30 feet away. He watched his body make three aerial somersaults and land on the pavement. He felt no pain but was dismayed that family members could not see or hear him, though his brother Graham later reported hearing Scott call to him "in his head." Scott heard his father repeatedly saying "I love you" but could not make himself heard, and when he tried to hug his father, his arms passed through his body. Scott then found himself at the entrance to a tornado-like vortex in a "bad dark place." Upon entering, he encountered the devil, described as having rotting putrid flesh covered with sores and slime, who spoke in a deep raspy voice saying "You're bad" and attempted to grab him. Scott felt the devil trying to "suck" him away from God through a strong negative force. After desperately maintaining faith in God, Scott was somehow rescued and whisked through the tunnel containing faces and voices of all who had loved him. He met his recently deceased Uncle Russell who reassured him everything would be okay, encountered a brilliant light he identified as God, and was escorted by an angel to a protective "dungeon" or safe dark place where the devil could not reach him. Scott regained consciousness in the ICU eight hours later and immediately recounted his experience to his parents. The experience left him with months of anxiety, nightmares, and restlessness, though he also developed increased spirituality and interest in religious matters.
5
Hospital
7
20
42
Moderate Evidence
15
Life-threatening car accident with documented severe injuries including skull fracture, no initial pulse, extended oxygen deprivation, treated in ICU
Out-of-body observation of accident from tree vantage point, saw body somersaulting, heard father speaking, brother heard telepathic call
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7/22/2025
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