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4674
qualitative
book
Titus Rivas et al., The Self Does Not Die: Verified Paranormal Phenomena from Near-Death Experiences, 2nd edition, ed. Janice Holden (International Association for Near-Death Studies, 2023). Chapter 3, Case 3.21, pages 3-5.
Erasing Death - Social Worker - Case 3.21 - pages 3-5 - 2013
2011
2013
57
M
A 57-year-old social worker with diabetes was brought by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital in Hampshire, England, after becoming unwell. While preparations were being made to insert a catheter, he went into ventricular fibrillation and experienced cardiac arrest. The ward had an automated external defibrillator (AED) available, a device designed for use by medical laypersons that can automatically detect ventricular fibrillation and provide voice-guided resuscitation instructions.
During his cardiac arrest, the patient experienced a near-death experience beginning with an encounter with what appeared to be a female angel who motioned for him to accompany her upward. The patient felt he could not comply with this request. In the next moment, he found himself in an out-of-body state, looking down at his own body from above. From this vantage point, he observed the medical team working on his resuscitation and witnessed them attempting defibrillation twice. Most significantly, he clearly heard an automated voice repeatedly saying "Shock the patient, shock the patient" during the resuscitation efforts. He was also able to observe specific details about the people present, including where each person was standing and their physical appearances. This case is particularly significant as it was part of the AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation) Study, the first NDE-related OBE case encountered in that investigation. While Dr. Sam Parnia was unable to locate witnesses who could directly confirm the patient's observations of the staff and their positions, he was able to access the patient's medical file for verification. The medical records confirmed that an AED had indeed been used during the resuscitation. These devices are programmed to announce "shock advised" upon detecting fibrillation, then prepare the electrical shock and provide verbal instructions for when to administer it. The file documented that the AED was used twice, exactly as the patient had reported. Professor Enrico Facco of the University of Padua analyzed this case and concluded that the acoustic commands heard by the patient demonstrated consciousness persisting for at least three minutes during cardiac arrest, based on the AED's programmed interval between voice commands. This provides objective evidence of awareness during a period when the brain should have been non-functional due to lack of blood flow.
1
Hospital
28
22
68
Exceptional Evidence
18
Documented cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation. AED monitoring provided objective timing evidence. Hospital setting with medical team present.
Heard specific AED voice commands "Shock the patient" twice. Observed people positions and appearances. Medical file confirmed AED use twice as reported.
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7/26/2025
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