A Reddit user who briefly died before being revived described the strange, peaceful experience that followed. Working in healthcare themselves, they explained that after being pronounced dead for a few minutes, they spent several days on a ventilator. The incident, they said, drastically changed their outlook on life.
They recalled feeling no pain despite their body struggling physically, even during moments like vomiting and aspirating while intubated. Throughout their time in the ICU, they were aware of loved ones around them and could hear their conversations, but were unable to respond—an out-of-body sensation they found particularly unsettling.
The most unusual moment came when, upon being taken off the ventilator, they saw their grandmother who had died in 2004. She told them their “time here is just beginning,” a message the user interpreted as reassurance that their life was not yet over.
The Redditor later reflected that the vision might have been spiritual or medication-induced, but either way, it brought comfort. Other users responded with fascination, sharing similar experiences and noting how uncertain it can be to determine what patients perceive when close to death.
