Near-death experiences (NDEs) have long fascinated both scientists and the public. Survivors of cardiac arrest often describe visions of bright light, feelings of peace, or encounters with deceased loved ones.

While medicine can explain what happens to the body during death, what happens to the mind remains one of neuroscience’s deepest mysteries.

One remarkable case is that of Tom Kearney, who was hit by a bus in 2009 just before Christmas.

His injuries were severe—his head split open, and his lungs collapsed—leaving him in a coma for two weeks. During that time, Tom claimed to have vivid experiences that felt more real than dreams.

He said he first found himself in his great-grandfather’s house in Ireland, where he saw his late grandparents. They told him he didn’t belong there. Moments later, he appeared at his in-laws’ home in New York, where his deceased mother-in-law told him, “You’re supposed to be with your wife and boys—please go home.”

Tom recalled meeting other deceased relatives who shared the same message. He also heard voices of loved ones visiting him in the hospital. “It was like being in a submarine, steering by sound,” he explained. “Their voices helped me build a world in my coma.”

When he woke, Tom remembered his coma experiences as if they were vivid dreams spanning time and space. Dr. Charlotte Martial of the University of Liège’s Coma Science Group studied his case and noted that most NDEs are not so peaceful.

She explained that a lack of oxygen triggers the release of chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, which can create visions and calmness—a possible defense mechanism during trauma.

Tom’s story continues to intrigue scientists and believers alike, offering a glimpse into what the mind might experience at the edge of life.