A North Carolina man who was declared clinically dead during a severe medical emergency says he experienced what he believes was a glimpse of heaven, but the setting he described was nothing like he expected.
David Hanzel, a psychic medium from North Carolina, says the experience happened in 2015 after he developed a life-threatening lung infection that led to sepsis and cardiac arrest.
A Medical Emergency Changed Everything
According to Hanzel, doctors placed him into a medically induced coma after his heart stopped during treatment for the infection.
He remained unconscious for nearly two months. During that time, he claims he experienced vivid scenes that completely changed his beliefs about death and the afterlife.
Speaking about the experience years later, Hanzel said he initially had no idea he had died or left his physical body.
He Claims He Saw a Strange Version of Heaven
Hanzel described finding himself beneath what he called the most beautiful night sky he had ever seen, with endless stars stretching across a dark, silky atmosphere.
Shortly afterward, he says two mysterious beings appeared beside him and guided him through the experience.
“They just felt comfortable, like I knew them,” Hanzel recalled while describing the encounter.
According to him, the beings eventually revealed a bright golden-white light surrounded by angels before leading him somewhere entirely unexpected.
The Place Looked More Like a Pub Than Heaven
Rather than entering a traditional religious setting, Hanzel claims he was brought into a space resembling an old-fashioned pub filled with colorful bottles lining the walls.
However, he says there was no alcohol present.
According to Hanzel, the beings explained that people are often shown environments that feel comforting or familiar based on their personal expectations, beliefs, and life experiences.
The unusual description has sparked discussion online, with many people comparing it to other near-death experiences where individuals reported seeing familiar or symbolic places.
He Described Feeling Weightless
Hanzel also claimed he later found himself near a massive white marble structure where movement felt entirely different from normal life.
“When you stepped, it didn’t feel like your foot touched the ground,” he said. “It felt like floating and walking at the same time.”
After eventually waking from the coma, Hanzel says he returned with a completely different outlook on life and relationships.
He Says the Experience Changed Him Forever
According to Hanzel, the experience left him feeling at peace and free from anger toward people who had hurt him in the past.
He also said it changed the way he views religion, spirituality, and human existence.
While scientists continue debating whether near-death experiences are caused by neurological activity or something beyond current understanding, stories like Hanzel’s continue to fascinate people around the world.
Medical experts note that near-death experiences are not uncommon among patients who survive cardiac arrest or severe trauma, though there is no scientific consensus on what causes the vivid visions some people report.
