Covid patient clinically dead for ‘several minutes’ saw ‘light at the end of a tunnel’ – World News

A coronavirus patient says he saw “a light at the end of a tunnel” when he was clinically dead for “several minutes”.

Doctors managed to “miraculously” bring Norberto Di Natale, 64, back to life after telling his family the only thing to do “was pray”.

Mr Di Natale, a car mechanic from the city of Pergamino in Argentina, caught coronavirus in October last year and spent a week in hospital before being sent home.

But he soon returned with a high fever and feared he would die after two people died next to him the first two days he was there.

Mr Di Natale said: “One person dies on Friday, another dies on Saturday, there is no three without two. Now it’s my turn, I presume.”

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He became critically ill after being diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, and doctors decided to put him in an induced coma and intubate him.

Doctors told his family he had “unfortunately worsened and the only thing left to do was pray”.

He was eventually moved to a Covid-19 ward to continue his recovery.

But one day while lying alone, he said he began talking to himself and started counting his heartbeats, which kept slowing down until “it went ‘tick’ and nothing more”.

Mr Di Natale told Infobae: “I have heard many people say there is a light at the end of a tunnel… I saw exactly the same thing. What I heard about so many times on television, I saw the exact same thing.

“It’s something you wouldn’t believe, but that is the way it is. And it is not what you think happens. It’s very shocking.”

He told local media he was dead for “several minutes” before doctors finally managed to “miraculously” bring him back to life.

After his near-death experience, Mr Di Natale was discharged from the hospital days later and received home care for two months before eventually overcoming the virus.

But he has not fully recovered yet.

He lost 20kg (44lbs) after receiving medical care for almost four months, and was left weak with reduced mobility.

Mr Di Natale said he is trying to get back into shape as he waits to receive a vaccine.

He added: “I want to thank the clinic very much for what they have done, which is superhuman.

“They have done everything, not only for me but also for the people that died next to me.”