Man Who Was Clinically Dead For 45 Minutes Shares What He Saw On The Other Side

A man who was clinically dead for what he believes was around 45 minutes has opened up about what he experienced during that time, which he describes as a glimpse into the 'afterlife'.

Over twenty years ago, Vincent Tolman, who used to be a bodybuilder, said he had what felt like a heavenly encounter after slipping into a coma. This happened right after he took some supplements that he and a friend had ordered off the internet.

The incident occurred on January 18, 2003. Vincent said he suddenly blacked out and entered a strange state of awareness where he was able to see his own body lying motionless on the ground.

Recalling the terrifying yet deeply moving moment, Tolman said: "So they think I was dead for at least 30 to 45 minutes before they found me, but I was cold, like cold to the touch."

"Back in the day, I was an amateur bodybuilder, I was taking a fairly new supplement. Turns out, the supplement was toxic, and I ended up aspirating in a public bathroom."

Vincent Tolman 'died' for up to 45 minutes before being resuscitated Insider

"So I had passed out and started to vomit, and I aspirate on that vomit and and I ended up dying right there on the bathroom floor."

Out of nowhere, Vincent said he found himself seated in what he described as a super comfy movie theater chair. He realized he was watching his own death play out, as though it were a film being shown just for him.

He added: "The movie was the scene of this body on the ground, and I was looking at everything from above. But what's weird is it didn't feel like it was me at all - even though I was sitting there looking at my own dead body, I couldn't recognize it."

"It would almost be like going to a movie, like a real movie, and seeing someone dressed like you and looking like you on the movie, but you're like, that's not me, because he's over here watching the movie - that's what it felt like."

Tolman's death was caused by a 'toxic' supplement he bought online Submitted

"So I had no idea that what I was watching was my own death."

The sense of separation from the scene was so strong that Vincent started mentally questioning the 'director' of the film he was watching. Because of his background in film and television, he couldn't help but critique why certain details—like the personal thoughts of people in the restaurant, even the cook—were included in the 'movie.'

This mental connection to everyone's thoughts felt strange to him. It almost seemed excessive, as if the scene lacked direction or meaning, making the entire moment feel even more surreal and dreamlike.

At one point, Vincent said he saw the paramedics place his body in a body bag. He could also hear the thoughts of one of the medics who was sitting in the back of the ambulance, almost as if their mind was broadcasting directly to him.

The former bodybuilder was placed on life support having fallen into a coma Submitted

"And as he was doing that, I actually saw light, a real light, start glowing from inside this rookie medic," he shared.

"And it felt as if like someone put a light bulb inside his shirt, like light was actually coming out from his heart space"

Then suddenly, as if from nowhere, he heard a powerful voice declare, ""

That overwhelming voice pushed the medic to break standard procedure. He went against what he was supposed to do, unzipped the body bag, and checked for any remaining sign of life. Even though there was no heartbeat, he felt a tiny jolt near Vincent’s inner thigh. That small spark was enough for him to try resuscitating him.

When Vincent’s body was being moved to the hospital, he began to feel the straps being fastened around his arms. Still trapped in this strange observer-like state, he was puzzled by the sensation, not fully understanding what was happening to him.

It was during that moment that it hit him—he was the one in the 'movie' all along. The body he had been watching was his own.