MAN’S STRANGE TRANCE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 58, 1 December 1934, Page 18

MAN’S STRANGE TRANCE

“Dead” for Four Years

“How does it feel- to be ‘dead’ for four years?” This was the question put by a ‘‘Sunday Chronicle” correspondent lately to Mr. Victor Stanley Cleave, of Folkestone, who for four years was in a strange trance. Mr. Cleave is now back home with his wife and two children, and he is making splendid progress toward the complete recovery of his health. He told of one of the strangest experiences that any human can have had. Six years ago Mr. Cleave fell seriously ill. During the war he had been wounded while serving with the Royal Engineers in France, but after dis--charge from hospital he had taken up his old.duties on the railway. His . health, however, slowly broke - down and a complete breakdown brought a crisis. , . • Mr. Cleave Was sent to the Ministry of-Pensions hospital'at Cosham. Within 24 hours of his admittance he fell into a deep sleep. Four years sped by while he lay like a man who was “dead” to ■ the world. ‘‘lt was just ' like waking from a very deep sleep,” he said. “Time has been of no account to me. I did not know that four years qf*my life had slipped away. I remembered nothing after the day I came to the hospital a very sick man. They told me I had been in a trance for four

years. It seems incredible, but I was still too weak to worry. As the months sped by I felt that I was regaining the use of my limbs, and one day I found that I could speak again. “At first I had great difficulty in keeping my eyes open. Then came the day when I came home for a short visit to my wife and children. Back at our little home I found two grownup children waiting to greet me. “I did not recognise them at first, for six years had passed since I saw them last and, then they were only babies. When I was able to get out a little I found a different Folkestone. There were new houses, new buildings. Someone had been busy improving the town. I was bewildered by the traffic on the roads. There were many more cars than when I was taken ill. “Yes. I am so much better now and I hope to go back to work soon. I am still waiting discharge from hospital, but they have extended my leave because I am getting on so well.” Mrs. Cleave stated that while many medical men who saw her husband during the four-year period gave up hope, one told her three years ago that he would recover and be able to take his place again in the world with others. These words have nearly come true already.