Back from the Dead?

A New Zealander who was pronounced clinically dead after being stung by

five box jellyfish while diving is visiting Redland this week to tell

his story.

Ian McCormack came back to life

in hospital just as the doctor was about to perform an autopsy on him. He had been

dead for 15 minutes.

The incident happened in the Indian Ocean

off the coast of Mauritius a number of years ago and had such a

dramatic impact on his life that Ian now travels the world telling what

he saw and heard during the 15 minutes when he was dead.

Ian will be sharing his amazing story on Wednesday night at the Elmgrove Centre on Redland Road starting at 7.30.

Dr

Richard Kent, a retired GP who has written on near-death experiences, says of Ian's story, "As an experienced

General Practitioner, I have no doubt that Ian died following multiple

stings from Box Jellyfish. The Box Jellyfish is one of the most

dangerous venomous creatures in the world. Death can occur within five

minutes. Death is due to respiratory failure, caused by paralysis of

the respiratory centre in the brain, or to direct effects on the heart.

Patients who have been stung by Box Jellyfish frequently become

unconscious before leaving the water. "