Gabe Poirot was only 20 when a devastating skateboarding accident changed his life. On October 25, 2021, he was traveling on an electric skateboard at roughly 30 miles per hour when he struck an object in the road, sending him crashing onto the sidewalk and suffering a severe traumatic brain injury. Doctors placed him into a medically induced coma, where he remained for 18 days. Poirot later said he believes he experienced something far beyond unconsciousness. He claims he viewed his own body from above while feeling completely alive and says he encountered Jesus, whom he described as having a West Asian appearance and slightly curly hair. According to Poirot, Jesus appeared throughout the experience, seemingly present among mountains, trees, and other parts of what he perceived as another realm.

One phrase in particular continued to echo throughout Poirot’s experience: “Worthy is the lamb,” a line found in Revelation 5:12. He also recalls Jesus asking him, “Gabriel, why are you concerned about that which has been paid for?” Near the end of his coma, a family friend named Ginger visited the hospital and prayed over him, telling him that he knew her voice and could not remain in the coma. Poirot believes those prayers played a role in his recovery. From what he describes as Heaven’s perspective, he says he watched the prayers form bridges that ultimately connected with Jesus. After regaining consciousness, the experience became central to his Christian faith and ministry. He later chronicled his claims in his book 18 Days in Heaven: I Left My Body. I Met Jesus and now shares his story online, where his YouTube content has reportedly attracted more than 2.2 million subscribers.