Leah Berenson

Leah Berenson

January 10, 2025

After Losing His Pulse for 45 Minutes, Man Awoke with an Extraordinary Glimpse of the Afterlife

Many theories exist regarding what happens in the afterlife. However, a few, who’ve skimmed the thin line between life and death, have claimed to know what happens. Over the years, several stories have come to light when people explain what they saw or experienced during the moments they were pronounced dead, including a man who had no pulse for over 40 minutes. 

Claims of the Afterlife

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Early in 2014, a trucker named Brian Miller from Beachwood, Ohio had a heart attack and passed away. However, in a strange twist of events, he came back to consciousness around 45 minutes later, ready to share some interesting tales from the afterlife. Miller, who was 41 at the time, had a blockage in a main artery and called 911. He was rushed to Aguja Medical Center where he was admitted to the ICU. Although Miller was revived he came in and out of consciousness, slipping out one last time, seemingly forever.

NDE Leads to Belief of Afterlife

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Miller, who was 41 at the time, had a blockage in a main artery and called 911. He was rushed to Aguja Medical Center where he was admitted to the ICU. Although Miller was revived he came in and out of consciousness, slipping out one last time, seemingly forever. Sadly, Miller had developed ventricular fibrillation, a condition that prevents the heart from pumping blood. “Hard and fast” CPR was administered and the doctors shocked Miller 4 times to revive him. Sadly, he remained unconscious and was pronounced dead. 

Regaining Consciousness

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Astonishingly, he regained consciousness nearly an hour later, shocking the medical staff on duty. “He had no heart rate, he had no blood pressure, he had no pulse,” explained Emily Bishop, a nurse in the ICU. “I mean think about that.” She added:  “His brain had no oxygen for 45 minutes, the fact that he’s up walking, talking, laughing, everything is amazing.”

“Believe It”

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While his story is unexplainable, he shared some wisdom with others, informing everyone that there is an afterlife. “People need to believe in it, big time,” he said. “The only thing I remember I started seeing the light, and started walking toward the light.” 

A Seemingly Joyous Reunion

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Miller recounted the details, describing a “flower lined path” and a “white light.” He explained that he saw his stepmother. “She was the most beautiful thing when I seen her, it was like the first day I met her, (she) looked so happy,” he recalled. “She grabbed ahold of my arm and told me, ‘It’s not your time, you don’t need to be here, we’ve got to take you back you’ve got things to go and do.’”

Confirming Evidence of an Afterlife

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While the story  told by Fox8 may seem far-fetched, it’s not the only example of people dying for a brief period or having near death experiences who report bright lights, loved ones or angels, and glimpses into the afterlife. For instance, Business Insider published an article in 2023 confirming that researchers believe in an afterlife. 

A Professor for the Afterlife

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Jim Tucker is a psychiatry professor at the University of Virginia, and studies near-death experiences and children who claim to remember past lives. 

An Educator and Published Author

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In 2013, Tucker wrote a book, noting a young boy claiming to have been a Hollywood agent in a past life. After extensive research, Tucker found evidence of truth behind the boy’s claims believing him to have been an agent by the name of Marty who’d passed in 1964. Additionally, Tucker notes that around 70% of the children he’s studied were able to recall how they died. Meanwhile, 20% of them have recounted memories of the time between death and their next life.

Similar Experiences in the Afterlife

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 “Often when somebody has a heart attack or something that briefly causes their brain to shut down, many of them will describe floating above their bodies,” Tucker explained. “From there, people with near-death experiences describe traveling through a dark passage.” Next, many people describe seeing their deceased loved ones before encountering a bright “beam of light.”

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Image Credit: Pixabay

Another example of possible evidence of the afterlife comes from former Procter & Gamble salesman Harry Watson. Watson had a heart attack and his heart stopped. Years later, he recounted the events stating: “I know some people won’t believe me, but when I had my heart attack, I had a glimpse of heaven. It was a bright city on a hill. There was this beautiful music. There were people waiting for me, people I knew from church when I first joined who had since died. Then I woke up on the table in the hospital.” 

Speculating About the Afterlife

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People have debated the afterlife for centuries and stories like these certainly add weight to the favorable side. People have eerily similar experiences and recounts, which certainly makes you wonder what realm they’re in? Either way, it’s fun to discuss all the possibilities of “Heaven” and what the future holds for our souls. 

Read More: 17 Things People Get Totally Wrong About The Afterlife