The two certainties in life are supposedly death and taxes. Even then, for some the latter isn't always strictly true , which leaves just death.
Death is the one of the last mysteries, remaining largely unknowable - regardless of huge scientific advancements.
As for what it's like to die, there are popular theories about white lights and seeing your life cinematically flash before your eyes.
The only insight we have are accounts from people who have been medically dead then resuscitated, some of whom have taken to Reddit to answer the impossible "what's it like to die?" question as best they can. And the answers vary a lot.
Grieving family wants every driver to watch this devastating crash footage so it never happens again
"I woke up in what looked like space but there weren't any stars or light. I wasn't floating so to speak, I was just there.
"I remember thinking over my life, but it wasn't like a montage. More like I was idly flipping through a book and snippets stood out here and there.
"Whatever it was, it changed my thoughts on a few things. I am still afraid to die, but I'm not worried about what happens after that."
"I just remember being on the pavement and things slowly going black and quiet.
"Then someone was slapping my helmet (which was basically smushed really hard onto my head).
"When I opened my eyes I saw my brother squatting on the pavement next me to. This was odd because my brother died from an overdose several years ago.
"The only other thing I remember is him glancing at his watch and saying something like 'They'll be here soon' and then walking away.
"I wish I could give more detail but I honestly don't remember much of the incident and still have trouble with my memory as a result of the accident."
Retired wartime nurse aged 105 says secret to long life is to 'avoid men as they're not worth the hassle'
"I remember a feeling of being sucked backwards, extremely slowly, like being pulled through water and this blackness fading in and out.
"At one point it faded back in and I was staring out at a garden.
"It wasn't filled with flowers, just dust and patchy grass. There was a playground with a merry-go-round in the middle and two children running around it. A boy and a girl.
"I went through all the reasons I wanted to go back, and when I told the presence I didn't want to abandon my mother whatever held me finally let go.
"I snapped back into my body. My heart had stopped for six minutes."
Due to a sepsis and Clostridium difficile infection, his condition worsened, and he slipped in and out of death, which he describes beautifully.
"The worst part of it all, looking back, is how peaceful it can seem.
"And maybe you do hit it once or twice but then you remember that you have work or school and that sleep can wait because you've still got s*** to do."
"Had a heart attack last year and my heart stopped three times in the emergency room.
"Apparently, each time they shocked me back I 'woke up' (how it felt) and told the staff a different knock-knock joke each time. "No lights or whatever, just felt like sleep."
"For me it was just a blackout. No dreams, no 'visions, just nothing.
"Apparently I asked over ten times what happened and apparently I shall be happy to be alive today."
Death is the one of the last mysteries, remaining largely unknowable - regardless of huge scientific advancements.
As for what it's like to die, there are popular theories about white lights and seeing your life cinematically flash before your eyes.
The only insight we have are accounts from people who have been medically dead then resuscitated, some of whom have taken to Reddit to answer the impossible "what's it like to die?" question as best they can. And the answers vary a lot.
Grieving family wants every driver to watch this devastating crash footage so it never happens again
1. Like reading a book
Five years ago monitormonkey underwent major surgery during which he bled out, causing him to be dead for several minutes."I woke up in what looked like space but there weren't any stars or light. I wasn't floating so to speak, I was just there.
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| What comes after death has been a question no one can conclusively answer |
"I remember thinking over my life, but it wasn't like a montage. More like I was idly flipping through a book and snippets stood out here and there.
"Whatever it was, it changed my thoughts on a few things. I am still afraid to die, but I'm not worried about what happens after that."
2. A visit from someone dear
Schneidah7 was thrown from his motorbike while cruising at 50 mph and was medically dead when he was taken to hospital. As he lay in the road before the ambulance came, he recalled someone he knew encouraging him."I just remember being on the pavement and things slowly going black and quiet.
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| Another user claims he was visited and comforted by his brother |
"Then someone was slapping my helmet (which was basically smushed really hard onto my head).
"When I opened my eyes I saw my brother squatting on the pavement next me to. This was odd because my brother died from an overdose several years ago.
"The only other thing I remember is him glancing at his watch and saying something like 'They'll be here soon' and then walking away.
"I wish I could give more detail but I honestly don't remember much of the incident and still have trouble with my memory as a result of the accident."
Retired wartime nurse aged 105 says secret to long life is to 'avoid men as they're not worth the hassle'
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| No one claimed to have seen God |
3. A garden
While many users described their 'death' as being like a void, IDiedForABit had a very different experience after an allergic reaction which caused their heart to stop."I remember a feeling of being sucked backwards, extremely slowly, like being pulled through water and this blackness fading in and out.
"At one point it faded back in and I was staring out at a garden.
"It wasn't filled with flowers, just dust and patchy grass. There was a playground with a merry-go-round in the middle and two children running around it. A boy and a girl.
 |
| No one explicitly said they'd seen 'heaven' |
"I went through all the reasons I wanted to go back, and when I told the presence I didn't want to abandon my mother whatever held me finally let go.
"I snapped back into my body. My heart had stopped for six minutes."
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| The Grim Reaper luckily doesn't feature in this theory |
4. Hitting snooze
As a teenager, TheDeadManWalks had been going through months of chemotherapy when his nose started bleeding uncontrollably.Due to a sepsis and Clostridium difficile infection, his condition worsened, and he slipped in and out of death, which he describes beautifully.
"The worst part of it all, looking back, is how peaceful it can seem.
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| Dear David makes his appearance at the same time each night |
"And maybe you do hit it once or twice but then you remember that you have work or school and that sleep can wait because you've still got s*** to do."
5. Or is it a hoot?
altburger69's brush with death didn't stop them from cracking jokes."Had a heart attack last year and my heart stopped three times in the emergency room.
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6. There is nothing after
In the aftermath of a motorbike accident, Rullknuf's breathing and pulse stopped and he went "cramp and stiff". After two minutes, his friend managed to resuscitate him."For me it was just a blackout. No dreams, no 'visions, just nothing.
"Apparently I asked over ten times what happened and apparently I shall be happy to be alive today."
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