I Survived a Near Death Experience and Here's What I Learned
What Researchers Found
The Story
Bubba Herck was a 24-year-old Division One baseball player from Tampa, Florida. In 2019, he underwent Tommy John surgery for an elbow injury. During the procedure, anesthesia failed, and he flatlined on the operating table, causing his death. From above, Bubba watched his body change colors to purple, blue, and white as the heart monitor flatlined. He then experienced a life review, viewing his life like a movie from a third-person perspective. He relived key moments, felt his parents' emotions, forgave them for past hurts, and recalled a loving basketball game with his stepdad Mike. Filled with regret and bitterness, he entered a beautiful, crystal-clear realm of light and oneness with no time. There, Mike appeared, offered a choice to stay in paradise or return to fulfill a great purpose, and Bubba chose to return. He watched doctors revive him and woke up fighting. After the NDE, Bubba lost his passion for baseball, quit the sport, and struggled with his identity, losing friends and straining family ties. He reshaped his beliefs around spirituality and an afterlife. He found his purpose to help others live fully by preparing for death. Now, he travels in his vehicle, wrote the book Becoming Ready to Die with a 12-step process, and speaks to share his message.
“then sent back home then back on the was nothing I could do about it you know”
The account describes a severe medical crisis with flatline and OBE perception from above during surgery, providing some specific details like doctor dialogue and body color changes. However, evidential strength is limited by complete lack of verification attempts, no confirmed veridical elements, and no information on timely pre-verification reporting.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.
Are you here because someone you love has died?
These accounts were gathered because death may not be the end. Thousands of people have experienced something beyond — and come back to tell us about it.
What Researchers Found
The account describes a severe medical crisis with flatline and OBE perception from above during surgery, providing some specific details like doctor dialogue and body color changes. However, evidential strength is limited by complete lack of verification attempts, no confirmed veridical elements, and no information on timely pre-verification reporting.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.