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5090
qualitative
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Carter, Chris. Science and the Near-Death Experience: How Consciousness Survives Death. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2010. Chapter 14, pp. 219-220. Case: Al Sullivan
Science and the Near-Death Experience - Al Sullivan - Chapter 14, pp. 219-220 - 2010
1995
2010
55
M
Al Sullivan, a 55-year-old truck driver, underwent emergency triple bypass surgery at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut in 1995. During the final phase of the operation while his chest was being closed, Sullivan experienced a cardiac arrest. His anesthesiologist, Dr. Anthony LaSala, confirmed that Sullivan was in a deep coma with no recordable blood pressure during the arrest. His eyes were taped shut as standard surgical procedure, and he was under deep general anesthesia.
During his cardiac arrest, Sullivan reported an extraordinary out-of-body experience where he could see his surgeon, Dr. Hiroyoshi Takata, who appeared perplexed and seemed to be "flapping his arms as if trying to fly." This unusual observation puzzled Sullivan at the time. He then noticed his deceased brother-in-law who had died almost two years before among three figures present. Sullivan described seeing "the most brilliant yellow light coming from what appeared to be a very well lit tunnel" with a golden yellow hue that, despite being the brightest he had ever seen, caused no discomfort to his eyes. From this light emerged a brown cloaked figure that he recognized with delight as his mother, who had died when he was seven years old. The most remarkable veridical observation was Sullivan's description of the surgeon's arm movements. When Sullivan later recounted seeing Dr. Takata "flapping his arms," Dr. LaSala confirmed witnessing this exact behavior. Because Dr. Takata had already scrubbed and re-entered the sterile field, he was pointing with his elbows to avoid contamination - a unique habit of his. Researcher Bruce Greyson interviewed both doctors in 1997, with Dr. Takata confirming this was his regular practice and Dr. LaSala confirming he had never seen another surgeon use this specific mannerism. Sullivan's case provides exceptional evidence for veridical perception during clinical death, with his unusual observation independently confirmed by multiple medical professionals who verified both the medical circumstances and the specific, unique surgical behavior observed.
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Hospital
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70
Exceptional Evidence
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Cardiac arrest during surgery under deep general anesthesia with eyes taped shut. No recordable blood pressure, confirmed by anesthesiologist.
Highly specific and unique observation of surgeon's elbow-pointing habit. Observation impossible through normal means due to anesthesia and taped eyes.
written_account
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Bruce Greyson
1,997.00
8/6/2025
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