A writer has shared his harrowing near-death experience following a surgical procedure, including the moment he believed his life was ending. According to a survey by Perfect Choice Funeral Plans, a significant 31 percent of Brits claim to have had similar experiences.
The most common circumstances for these chilling encounters were narrowly avoiding a road accident or post-surgery. Those who have returned from this near-death experience report various phenomena, from moving through a tunnel towards a bright light to reuniting with deceased loved ones. Some even witness their memories flashing before their eyes in an instant, often leading to profound changes in their lives.
However, for senior foreign news reporter James Reynolds, his experience diverged from the typical narrative. In a piece written for MailOnline, James recounted his ordeal during bladder removal surgery.
Despite initially dismissing any pre-operation anxiety, the situation quickly became alarming. While recovering from the operation, James was given fentanyl, a pain relief medication typically used around surgical procedures. It was at this point that he “drifted off into catatonia”, struggling to focus on a wall clock as medical staff hurried to assist him, reports the Mirror.
He recalls a nurse urging him: “James, you need to breathe. You’re not breathing.” Terrifyingly, he found himself unable to comply or respond.
James penned a compelling recount of his harrowing experience, sharing: “I knew it was not an ordinary request. In a haze of anaesthetic and fentanyl, I thought I had done something wrong. ‘Oh, yes,’ I thought. ‘I should do that. Sorry’. But I couldn’t. Had I forgotten how? I could not move. I could not respond. There was still the residual feeling of being told off, like a child, motivating me to try.
“My thoughts turned to my mother and my father and then to nothing. I could only spectate as my world went white. My life did not flash before my eyes. I did not see God. There was just white. ‘Oh well,’ I thought. ‘I guess that’s that'”.
In the chaos of the emergency room, while medics were frantically working to resuscitate him, James experienced a tranquil detachment. He recounted: “There was no discomfort, no urgency on my part. The white of the room became steadily more vivid, like turning up the exposure on a photograph. My thoughts cleared.
“Then suddenly, “Gasp. A had been fitted with a respirator to deliver oxygen. The cold of some foreign liquid ran through the cannula and into my veins. I was coming back.”
After the tense episode, James reported that the medical team successfully stabilised him, leading to another dose of fentanyl and subsequent need for respiratory support. Despite feeling more drained and possessing a hazier memory than before, he thankfully remained without pain.
James paid tribute to the medical team who saved his life, with heartfelt thanks for their efforts. Reflecting on his experience, he shared: “The feeling of not being in control has stayed with me. Again, for my doctors it was another day in the office. But for me, I accept that it was unusual. ‘Near-death’ is a relative term and I might never know the true risk.”
He continued: “I do know that in those important moments, important as they felt, those around me did all that was required to make sure I was okay. They operated smoothly and professionally to help me through when I could not help myself. And for that, I am grateful.”