‘I died for 107 minutes and was put in body-bag – then I saw what afterlife really is

Vinney Tolman has shared an extraordinary story about what he believes happened after he collapsed from a dangerous reaction to a bodybuilding supplement, saying the experience completely changed the way he sees life, death and God.

The American weightlifter said the frightening incident began after he and a friend took a bodybuilding supplement that has since been banned. Soon afterwards, both men started feeling seriously unwell and decided to stop at a restaurant to get something to eat. Vinney’s condition quickly became worse, so he went to the restroom, hoping to make himself sick and get the substance out of his system.

As he walked towards the sink, he suddenly felt the room spinning. Moments later, he heard what he believes was the sound of his head hitting either the floor or the sink before everything went dark. Restaurant staff later found him unconscious on the bathroom floor.

According to Vinney, it took a long time before emergency services reached him, and by then he had shown no obvious signs of life. He said experienced paramedics attempted to revive him using CPR and oxygen but were unable to get any response. Believing there was nothing more they could do, they pronounced him dead at the scene and placed him inside a body bag.

What happened next is the part of his story that has attracted worldwide attention. Vinney claims that although his body appeared lifeless, his consciousness remained active. He said he suddenly felt completely free from pain and described floating above his own body while watching everything happening below as though he were observing a film.

Looking down, he said he noticed details about his body that he could never have seen from the floor, including severe swelling around his neck and unusual colours on his face. He also claimed he watched his friend being discovered unconscious in another part of the restaurant before being taken away in an ambulance, where he later recovered.

As he remained suspended above the scene, Vinney recalled seeing what he described as a glowing orb of light approaching him. At first he thought it resembled a bright stage light, but he soon began to feel that something far more significant was taking place.

He said he watched another ambulance crew arrive, including two experienced paramedics and a newly-qualified rookie. After repeated attempts to revive him failed, the senior paramedics left the younger medic alone with what they believed was a dead body while they completed paperwork.

Vinney claims that from his unusual viewpoint he could somehow sense the young paramedic’s thoughts. He said the rookie was filled with regret for not questioning the decision to stop trying to save him. Acting on what Vinney believes was instinct, the young medic opened the body bag for one final examination.

Despite finding no obvious signs of life at first, the paramedic continued checking until he detected what he believed was a faint pulse. Ignoring normal procedures, he immediately restarted emergency treatment. After several attempts using oxygen and a defibrillator, Vinney’s heart eventually began beating steadily again.

Although his heart had restarted, Vinney remained in a coma for three days. It was during this period, he says, that he experienced something he believes was a journey beyond death.

He described entering a place unlike anything he had ever imagined, surrounded by an overwhelming feeling of peace, acceptance and unconditional love. He said the sensation was so powerful that every loving experience he had ever known in his life seemed insignificant by comparison.

Vinney recalled seeing a man dressed entirely in flowing white robes with long white hair and a beard. Believing he was looking at God, he said he was surprised when the figure communicated with him without speaking, telling him he was neither God nor Jesus but simply a guide sent to help him.

According to Vinney, the guide led him into what he described as another world filled with incredible beauty. He said everything around him appeared alive, including the grass, which he felt carried its own consciousness and expressed love. He described the environment as larger and more vibrant than anything he could compare to life on Earth.

During this experience, Vinney said he came to believe that humanity’s understanding of God and spirituality is far more limited than reality. Rather than seeing God as simply a person or figure, he concluded that God exists throughout all creation as a powerful force of love connecting everything together.

He also said he experienced what many people describe as a life review, where he witnessed moments from his own life through the eyes and emotions of other people. According to Vinney, he felt both the joy and pain his actions had caused others, leaving him convinced that kindness, honesty and authenticity are among the most important things in life.

When he finally woke from his coma, Vinney said he no longer feared death. Instead, he believed he had been given a second chance to live with greater purpose and compassion.

Since recovering, he has shared his near-death experience in interviews, podcasts and public speaking events. He also wrote a book called The Light After Death: My Journey to Heaven and Back, in which he describes his remarkable account and the lessons he says he brought back from what he believes was another world.

Vinney’s story remains deeply personal and cannot be independently verified. While many people find accounts of near-death experiences inspiring, doctors and scientists continue to debate what causes such experiences, with theories ranging from changes in brain activity during life-threatening medical emergencies to spiritual explanations held by people of different faiths and beliefs.