A near-death experience (NDE) is a range of subjective experiences reported by some people following a close encounter with death, including cardiac arrest. These experiences can include feelings of profound peace or wellbeing, a sense of leaving the body (out-of-body experience), moving through a tunnel towards light, encountering deceased relatives, a life review, and a sense of returning to the body. NDEs are reported across cultures and are not explained by religious belief alone.
How common are they after cardiac arrest?
Research suggests that between 10 and 20% of cardiac arrest survivors who are resuscitated report some form of near-death experience. A landmark study (the AWARE study, led by Dr Sam Parnia) investigated consciousness and awareness during cardiac arrest. The experiences are typically vivid and feel more real than ordinary dreams. Importantly, they are often positive and can have a lasting transformative effect on the survivor.
Psychological impact
NDEs can profoundly affect a survivor’s outlook on life, relationships, and spiritual beliefs. Common after-effects include reduced fear of death, increased sense of purpose, greater compassion for others, a feeling that life has changed direction, and in some cases difficulty readjusting to ordinary life. For some survivors, the NDE itself is a source of comfort. For others, it creates confusion, difficulty sharing the experience, or a sense of alienation.
Where to find support
Many survivors find it difficult to discuss NDEs with family or clinical staff, fearing they will not be believed or will be dismissed. The International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) and similar organisations provide information and peer support for people who have had these experiences. Peer support from other cardiac arrest survivors who have had similar experiences can also be valuable.
Clinical acknowledgement
Healthcare professionals caring for cardiac arrest survivors should be aware that NDEs are real subjective experiences that can significantly shape recovery. Acknowledging and validating the experience is an important part of person-centred care.
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