Randy Kay says that he died, met Jesus, and returned from the edge of death with a message he could no longer keep to himself.

According to CBN, after collapsing from what doctors determined to be a near-fatal series of blood clots, Kay claims he was clinically dead for over 30 minutes and had a vivid encounter with Jesus that changed his life.

Kay, an author and former agnostic, first sensed something was wrong after a business trip when he discovered his calf had become unusually swollen. Despite the visible symptoms, he went for a bike ride along the coast of San Diego, where his breathing became labored and his condition worsened.

“I could barely walk,” Kay later said. “I went up the coast on the bicycle and could barely breathe. My calf was about one and a half times its size.” He then made a visit to his doctor, but collapsed upon arrival and was rushed to the hospital.

At the emergency room, doctors diagnosed him with seven blood clots in critical areas—six in the main artery providing blood to the lungs and one dangerously close to the heart. A physician later described Kay as a “walking dead man” due to the advanced progression of the condition and the delay in seeking treatment.

Declared clinically dead in a hospital room

While undergoing treatment in the hospital, Kay developed a serious staph infection known as MRSA, which entered his bloodstream and worsened his already fragile state. It was during this period that he became unresponsive and was declared clinically dead.

According to Kay, that's when an unexplained event occurred. He describes feeling a strange tug on his hospital gown followed by a sensation of detachment from his body. “I became a third party to my body,” he recalled. “I was looking down at this still body. I knew that was my body, but that wasn’t me.”

He claims that as soon as he called out the name of Jesus Christ, he found himself alongside a figure he instinctively recognized as Jesus. He said he immediately broke down in this presence, experiencing what he described as overwhelming love and peace.

A journey through memories and moments

The encounter allegedly continued with what Kay says was a journey through his life guided by Jesus. He saw scenes from his early childhood, moments that had shaped him, and experiences he had forgotten. Each memory, he said, was a reminder of divine presence through the years.

Despite having been an agnostic for a time, Kay came to believe that these moments revealed how Jesus had always been near, subtly redeeming each chapter of his life. “And it dated back into my early childhood,” Kay said, “and there were different vignettes that He showed me.”

One such scene involved a moment when he was working as a hospital orderly. He brought a food tray to a terminally ill young boy, who surprised him by calmly declaring he was going to Heaven. Kay, an agnostic at the time, dismissed the statement but thanked the boy nonetheless.

The power of a simple prayer

The boy's parting words, “I’ll pray for you,” stuck with Kay. What seemed like a simple gesture at the time took on deeper meaning during this near-death experience. Jesus, Kay said, revealed that this boy’s brief prayer had triggered a spiritual transformation that would eventually lead to Kay’s renewed faith.

“His prayers brought me to a saving knowledge of Jesus,” Kay said. “That single prayer from that boy… is just as a testimony of how profound our prayers are.” This realization impacted him deeply and added another layer to his spiritual outlook.

Eventually, Jesus told Kay that he must return to his earthly body. Though devastated by the thought of leaving what he claimed was the presence of divine love, Kay said he accepted the instruction and regained consciousness back in the hospital.

Choosing to share the story years later

Kay kept the experience private for more than a decade. The emotional weight and spiritual significance of what he believed had happened led him to delay speaking about it publicly. But in time, he felt compelled to share the account more widely.

He went on to write several books, including his most well-known title, Heaven Stormed, where he recounts the experience in detail. He also launched a YouTube channel that explores other near-death experiences and spiritual journeys.

Kay’s story continues to draw attention from people interested in life-after-death encounters, spirituality, and personal transformation. While some remain skeptical, his account stands as a deeply personal testimony to what he believes was a miraculous event.