Aimee Walker
A man who died and saw ‘heaven’ has shared the three major lessons he’s taken away from the afterlife.
Vincent Tolman’s extraordinary story began with a near-fatal overdose in 2003 when he was just 25 years old.
A bodybuilding enthusiast from Texas, Tolman had ordered a potent dietary supplement from Thailand after struggling to find his preferred product locally.
Excited to try it, he and a friend consumed the supplement, unaware it contained a dangerously high concentration of GHB.
The overdose caused severe reactions, including vomiting, slowed heart rate, and eventually unconsciousness.
Seeking relief, he headed to a Dairy Queen, where Tolman barely managed to stumble into the restroom before succumbing to the drug’s effects.
His body suffocated as he inhaled his own vomit, and paramedics arrived to find him unresponsive.
Despite their initial efforts to revive him, they pronounced him dead and zipped him into a body bag.
Remarkably, Tolman later recalled watching these events unfold from an otherworldly perspective.
Detached from his body, he observed the paramedics working on him.
He even sensed their thoughts, particularly one EMT who, despite protocol, reopened the body bag and made a final, desperate attempt to save him.
This effort succeeded after 45 minutes of clinical death, restarting Tolman’s heart.
While his body remained in a coma for three days, Tolman claimed his spirit embarked on a transformative journey through what he describes as ‘heaven.’
He was guided by a figure dressed in white, whom he later identified as his great-grandfather.
The guide communicated with Tolman telepathically, teaching him profound lessons about life, death, and the purpose of existence.
One of the first experiences Tolman recounted was a life review.
He witnessed every action he had ever taken, both good and bad, but not just through his own eyes.
He experienced these moments from the perspective of others affected by his actions, feeling their emotions and reactions.
This review revealed the impact of his life, helping him see how even small acts of kindness could ripple outward.
Initially overwhelmed by a dark and fearful energy, Tolman soon felt warmth and peace enveloping him.
As he turned toward the source of this energy, he saw the good he had done in his life.
The love and serenity he experienced were unlike anything he had felt before.
His guide explained that life on Earth is not a trial or punishment but a school – a place for learning, growth, and connection.
Tolman learned three key lessons during his journey, per UNILAD.
First, authenticity is essential; every moment spent being inauthentic is wasted.
Second, life’s purpose is to grow and learn, not to be judged.
Lastly, he was taught to embody unconditional love for all living beings, including people, animals, and nature.
By embracing love, he discovered glimpses of heaven on Earth.
Tolman’s journey through the afterlife culminated in a pivotal decision: remain in the peaceful realm he had entered or return to his physical body.
His guide warned him of the heartache his death would bring to his loved ones, particularly his mother.
Moved by this realization, Tolman chose to return, despite the difficulty.
“Dying was beautiful and peaceful,” he later admitted. “The hard part was coming back.”
When Tolman awoke, he faced significant challenges in processing his experience.
Over time, he made peace with what had happened and embraced his renewed sense of purpose.
He even recognized his spiritual guide in a photograph of his great-grandfather, a man he had never met in life.
Tolman has since written a book, The Light After Death: My Journey to Heaven and Back, and works as a life coach, sharing the lessons he learned to help others find meaning and peace in their own lives.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357 in the U.S.A.
In the U.K., you can contact FRANK at 0300 123 6600 or http://talktofrank.com for confidential advice and information about drugs, their effects, and the law.
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