:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...#ixzz3FSatHEGQ
Nearly 40% of those who survived described 'awareness' during time when they were clinically dead before their hearts were restarted
One man recalled leaving his body and watching his own resuscitation
A total of 2,060 cardiac arrest patients were studied.
Of that number, 330 survived and 140 said that had been partly aware at the time of resuscitating.
Moment of peace: The bright light or golden flash image often used in Hollywood films was also described by some patients. Others experienced an unpleasant sensation of fears of drowning
Thirty-nine per cent of patients who survived cardiac arrest and were able to undergo interviews described a perception of awareness, but did not have any explicit memory of events.
Among the study participants who recalled awareness, and completed further interviews, 46 per cent experienced a wide range of mental recollections, that were not compatible with the commonly used term, near death experiences. They included feelings of fear and persecution.
Only nine per cent had experiences commonly linked to a near death experiences, while two per cent showed full awareness or out of body experiences.
They explicitly recalled 'seeing' and 'hearing' events after their hearts had stopped. In many of the cases, several similar trends emerged.
One in five described a feeling of peacefulness in the moment after death.
A third said time had either moved more quickly or slowed down. An out-of-body experience was felt by 13 per cent of those asked.
The bright light or golden flash image often used in Hollywood films was also described by some patients. Others experienced a more unpleasant sensation of fears of drowning or being dragged through deep water.
Dr Parnia said that the number of people having experiences when close to death would be higher were it not for drugs and sedatives given to patients.
The study was launched in 2008 following a successful 18-month pilot phase at selected hospitals in the UK.
It allowed the research to be expanded to include other centres within the UK, mainland Europe and North America.
'While it was not possible to absolutely prove the reality or meaning of patients’ experiences and claims of awareness, (due to the very low incidence - two per cent - of explicit recall of visual awareness or so called out of body experiences), it was impossible to disclaim them either and more work is needed in this area.
: