“DEAD” RESTORED

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19545, 6 April 1935, Page 14 (Supplement)

“DEAD” RESTORED

Man Describes Meeting With Departed

One of the most astonishing feats of surgery ever performed 'enabled a man who “died” for five minutes Lo return to his daily work, apparently restored to perfect health. The case, It Is believed, is the first on recorded in Britain where a patient (ias lived longer than a few days after life was restored by heart massage. The subject of the amazing recovery Is Mr John Puckering, 58, market gardener, of Arley, Worcestershire.

In recounting his experience during the fateful minutes whilst life was absent from his body Mr Puokering deolared the other day that he oommuned with his dead wife and friends .who passed away years ago. He solemnly averred 'that he saw his wife, whose death ooourred just over a year ago, the village postman, who died five years ago, and other friends from the locality who are in their graves. Happy Reunion Described.

Puckering was undergoing an abdominal operation at the hospital when his breathing suddenly stopped, and his heart -ceased to beat.

His Impression was that he met them in a room and that they all looked very happy and smiled kindly upon him. !

it is noteworthy In connection with his statement that when he came round lie plied those present witli quesiions regarding their relatives and friendg who had died. Puckering was brought to life by Mr G. Pcrcival Mills, surgeon to the General Hospital, Birmingham who has described the case in. the current issue of Ihe “British Medical Journal.”

“All of those present in Hie operating theatre believed * that the patient was dead,” stated Mr Mills, who added that lie began to massage the heart “only from a sense of duty, and without real hope of success." “I slipped my hand under the diaphragm," he continued, "and could feel what appeared to be an empty, flabby heart, without a flicker of pulsation.

"The head had, of course, been already lowered, and artificial respiration started; strychnine, adrfenalin, and ooramin had been given.

Heart Restarted.

“These measures had no apparent effect. I continued heart massage w’hlle an assistant injected adrenalin ■directly into the ventricle (heart compartment). “It was a minute later that I felt for the first time a faint flicker in the flabby organ I- was compressing. I mentioned it.

“The look of incredulity had hardly faded from the faces of my assistants when tiie heart suddenly started beating vigorously at 120 to the minute. “My'own impression is 'that the period in which the heart -stopped beating was eight or nine minutes. Other observers gave the time as three or four minutes. I am personally convinced that 'the time was not less than five."