Kathy McDaniel recounts chilling visions of demons, darkness and a heavenly reunion during coma caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome
News Flash Desk: A woman who spent 18 days in a medically induced coma after suffering severe lung failure has shared a startling account of what she claims was a near-death experience involving both hell and heaven, including a meeting with her deceased fiancé.
According to her account, Kathy McDaniel says she endured terrifying visions of demons and darkness before eventually finding herself in a peaceful heavenly environment during the coma that occurred in 1999.
Now aged 79, McDaniel believes the experience gave her a unique perspective on what may happen after death.
Coma Triggered by Severe Lung Disease
At the age of 53, McDaniel was admitted to hospital after developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a severe and potentially fatal lung condition that causes extreme inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs.
Doctors placed her into a medically induced coma while attempting to stabilise her condition. She remained unconscious for 18 days as doctors fought to save her life.
Despite being administered strong anaesthetic and memory-suppressing medications, McDaniel later claimed that she remained conscious in what felt like another realm of existence.
“I was suddenly pushed into a vast void and then found myself in a very frightening place. It was foggy, hot and terrifying. I never felt like I was dead,” McDaniel recalled.
Experience of Darkness and Fear
McDaniel said the experience began with complete darkness and overwhelming fear, where she heard a powerful voice asking if she knew where she was.
“I was extremely scared and confused. All I could see was darkness. Finally, I whispered, ‘Hell,’” she said.
She described running away after hearing what she called a terrifying laugh, eventually reaching a place she compared to a large burning city filled with screams, chaos and panic.
According to her account, the place resembled a massive city engulfed in flames, where people were running in fear and distress.
Claims of Encountering Demons
McDaniel said she believed she was surrounded by demonic figures, which she claims threatened and attacked her.
She also described being assigned strange tasks by these figures. One such task involved using round-tipped scissors to repeatedly clear bushes in a blackberry field, only for the branches to grow back again.
Despite the disturbing situation, McDaniel said she remained determined to escape.
“I kept telling myself, ‘I won’t give up. I will get out of here. Something is wrong. I don’t belong here,’” she said.
She claimed the experience felt as if months had passed, even though she had only been unconscious for days in reality.
Shift to a Snowy Landscape
According to McDaniel, the environment later changed when a figure she described as a “demonic woman” directed her to join a group of women wearing tattered clothing.
The group was then taken to a snow-covered region during a powerful blizzard, where they were placed inside a deserted wooden cabin and given tasks.
McDaniel said the turning point came when one of the women realised it was Christmas on Earth, prompting her to begin singing Christmas carols.
Although she was reportedly ordered to stop, she continued singing.
Vision of Heaven and Reunion With Deceased Fiancé
McDaniel said that immediately afterward, she experienced a sudden transformation in the environment.
“I suddenly felt immense love, peace and joy. It was as if I had reached heaven,” she recalled.
She described finding herself in a marble-like hall surrounded by what appeared to be a celestial garden.
In this place, she claimed she met her former fiancé, Rick, who had died just a month before she was admitted to hospital.
According to McDaniel, he appeared much younger, around 35 years old, and greeted her warmly.
“He told me he was proud of me and that I hadn’t lost my talent,” she said.
She also described seeing a book that appeared to contain details of her life, before being told she could not remain there because she still had unfinished tasks on Earth.
Awakening After 18 Days
McDaniel eventually regained consciousness in a hospital bed and learned she had been in a coma for 18 days.
Doctors continued treating her condition, and it took approximately two months for her to fully recover.
Although she shared parts of the experience with her family, McDaniel said she kept many details private for years because she felt embarrassed about describing what she believed was a journey through both hell and heaven.
Researchers note that near-death experiences during comas or critical illness remain scientifically unexplained, and accounts vary widely among individuals.
