Matthew Allick, a 43-year-old father of two from Romford, East London, has shared his surprising experience after being clinically dead for 10 minutes. Following a massive heart attack caused by a pulmonary embolism in August 2023, Allick collapsed and was declared clinically dead for several minutes before being resuscitated. He spent three days in a coma.
No Glimpses of the Afterlife
When Allick woke up, he recalled nothing of his time on the 'other side.' He described the experience as akin to waking from 'a peaceful sleep,' with no memories of bright lights or encounters with deceased relatives. Despite the lack of dramatic revelations, Allick says the event profoundly changed his outlook on life.
A Life-Changing Experience
Allick, a model and actor, wrote a memoir titled Life After Being Clinically Dead to document his journey. He found the writing process therapeutic, stating, 'I was brought back to life, so there is no challenge that can really deter me. Anything is possible if I can come back from the dead.'
Doctors at Hammersmith Hospital used a defibrillator and performed aggressive CPR, which caused internal bleeding. Scans revealed blood clots the size of a cricket ball on his heart and lungs, requiring multiple surgeries. Allick credits seven blood transfusions with saving his life.
Overcoming Adversity
After his heart attack, Allick faced a relationship breakdown, redundancy, financial troubles, and his son's health scare. However, life has since turned around. He is now engaged to his best friend, and they have bought a house together. His children are thriving, and he has secured acting roles, including a spot on EastEnders and a Postcode Lottery advert.
Allick said, 'Sometimes life throws challenges at you. You can sit down and cry, or you can take the road I did. I cried for a day or two, then thought about how to build myself back up. I actually died. It completely changed my outlook. Life is too short to worry.'
Writing the Memoir
The biggest challenge in writing his book was overcoming dyslexia. Allick used a Dictaphone to dictate his story. The memoir took six months to complete and has sold over 1,000 copies since its release two months ago. It is available at major retailers like Amazon and Waterstones.
Allick said, 'So many people reached out to me worldwide after hearing bits of my story, so I put it on paper. It's overwhelming that strangers enjoy something I did. As long as it encourages people to donate blood and inspires them, I've achieved my goal.'
Ongoing Health and Advocacy
In October, Allick reunited with the doctors who saved him and plans a reunion with the paramedics. He delivers motivational talks and works with the Blood Foundation to promote blood donation. His health has improved, but he requires lifelong blood thinners and cannot engage in sports or cooking. He said, 'My health will never be the same, but I focus on what I can do with what I have.'
