Man who died and saw 'brilliant light' reveals what else was on other side

It's a question that's been around since the beginning of time – what happens when we die?

Philosophers and us ordinary folk have debated the matter constantly. And while some think life ends as soon as your heart stops beating, others are convinced there's an afterlife.

If you do believe life goes on, you'll probably be interested in hearing about one man's experience. In an illuminating online thread, he recalls what happened when he was brought back to life in hospital.

The conversation was sparked on Reddit, when someone asked the question: "Redditors who have died then been resuscitated, what do you remember seeing? I've always been curious. Also, if anyone has any stories about how this changed their perception on religion, please share."

In response, the user replied: "As cliche as it may seem, I saw a brilliant light, and walked into it. Inside, I saw my childhood home and my recently departed grandmother. We talked awhile and then she asked me a question that hit me like a ton of bricks: 'Are you doing something that matters with your life?'."

The anonymous man remembers feeling a sense of panic when he was 'brought back' by medics – but it did lead to him gaining some important clarity. He added: "When I was resuscitated, I came back in abject panic, but the most pressing thing that was in my mind was the realisation that if I had died at that moment, I would have left the world worse off for having me in it.

Following the near-death experience, he made it his mission to be a better person. He added: "I decided to change who I was and make life a little kinder. I now work as a counsellor working with traumatised children who have experienced abuse, and I have never been happier. I guess I just needed to die to be reborn."

He "can't really explain" the spiritual experience – but has no plans to dwell on it too much. He added: "If I focused on that, I would be wasting my time on daydreams instead of doing what matters: trying to leave the world a little better than when I found it."