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A coma is when a person enters a prolonged unconscious state, rendering them unresponsive to touch, light, or sound. While some cases last only a few days, there are instances that span weeks, years, or even decades. Despite the body's slowed functionality, the mind continues to operate, leading to bizarre and extraordinary occurrences.
Coma survivors have shared a range of incredible stories, often acquiring new abilities, developing new obsessions, or undergoing a complete transformation in their perception of the world.
Curious? This gallery unveils a collection of the most astonishing and bizarre experiences people have shared after waking up from a coma.
A man who regained consciousness after being in a coma was astonished to discover that he had only aged two months. During the coma, he had experienced a vibrant alternate life that seemed to last a decade.
Reuben Nsemoh, a 16-year-old from Georgia, woke up from a coma with the ability to speak fluent Spanish but had lost his knowledge of English. This occurred after he suffered a soccer injury in 2016. However, over time, his English returned while his Spanish skills diminished.
Rory Curtis, a 25-year-old from the UK, fell into a coma following a car crash. On waking up, he was convinced that he was Hollywood's Matthew McConaughey.
It was only when he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the bathroom mirror that he realized he was just Rory Curtis...
Curtis, who had not spoken a word of French since dropping it in school at age 13, miraculously gained fluency in the language.
According to Australia's Daily Telegraph, an 81-year-old Swiss man named Angelo De Luca woke up from a four-day coma in 2010, after falling from a plum tree, with an insatiable appetite for sex.
De Luca's recently discovered engagement in sexual activities resulted in frequent encounters with a young worker, where he spent the substantial sum of approximately US$3,430 during a single visit. A judge ruled that he was incapable of managing his own affairs, and De Luca's son seized control of his finances and two houses.
In 2010, Candace Emptage, a woman from the UK, went into a six-week coma. When she woke up, she believed that she was 22 years old, Princess Diana was still alive, and the Spice Girls were still at the peak of their popularity.
Realizing she was no longer in the '90s but actually 40 years old, a woman with a 14-year-old child and a six-year relationship admitted, "Shock doesn't even come close to what I felt."
There are numerous instances of individuals awakening from comas and needing to regain the ability to breathe, urinate, and swallow due to prolonged reliance on ventilators, catheters, and feeding tubes.
According to a Reddit user, their mother experienced a month-long coma. Prior to the coma, she had been a heavy smoker. However, upon awakening, she was apparently astonished to learn that she was a smoker, and made the decision to quit immediately.
In 2010, Valerie Leah, a British woman, became infected with swine flu during her pregnancy. Concerned for the safety of her unborn baby, doctors allegedly made the decision to put her in a coma. This news was reported by Manchester Evening News.
Upon awakening, the medical staff gently handed Leah her newborn son. After a four-month stay, both mother and child were discharged in good health. This remarkable feat made Leah one of the rare individuals to give birth while in a coma.
A Reddit user experienced went into a coma for a week after the Christmas holidays. Upon waking up and returning home, they discovered some "ugly" new turtlenecks in their closet. Curious about where they came from, they asked their mother, who informed them that they had bought them for themself with gift cards. Apparently they no longer identified with their pre-coma sense of style!
After a three-week coma in 2005, Lisa Russell experienced difficulty recognizing her mother and boyfriend, despite recognizing her father. Additionally, she had no recollection of her home. Russell was unable to regain her feelings for her boyfriend, leading to the end of their relationship.
One Reddit user revealed that their long-time meat-eating father had fallen into a coma. When he awoke, he expressed confusion over being served meat and claimed he was a vegetarian!
In 2001, in Nepal, Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah (R) entered a coma after brutally killing 11 members of the Nepalese royal family, including his parents (the king and queen), before attempting to take his own life. According to succession rules, he technically inherited his father's role as king as long as he remained alive. As a result, for roughly 54 hours, Nepal was ruled by a mass murderer in a coma!
A Reddit user shared their experience of waking up from a four-week coma and gaining an extraordinary memory. They were able to recall complete conversations word for word, including the exact date and time. Additionally, they could quickly memorize images with just a glance.
Some individuals, upon awakening from a coma, recall the sound of a dear one reading aloud to them. At times, the words they hear may become distorted and blend into their dreams.
One Reddit user explained that they were in a medically induced coma for six weeks, but during that time they occasionally woke up in their mind but couldn't move their body at all.
Another Reddit user was in a similar situation while spending eight days in a coma. They had woken up but couldn't move even an eyelid, so they had accepted the idea that they had died.
People may also wake up from comas and feel as if they have just blinked, lacking any recollection of what occurred in the meantime.
Layla Towsey, a three-year-old, allegedly slipped into a coma in 2009 due to meningitis. Despite being on life support, she unexpectedly started singing ABBA’s 'Mamma Mia' after five days. Astonishingly, she eventually made a full recovery.
Following a car accident in Melbourne, Australia, Ben McMahon, a 19-year-old, slipped into a coma. Despite having only a rudimentary grasp of Mandarin from his high school studies and visit to Beijing, upon awakening, he surprised everyone by spontaneously becoming fluent in the language, both in speaking and writing, while losing proficiency in his native English.
He told the Express UK, "I didn't have to think about it, it felt completely natural to me." Although it took him a few days to regain his English skills, he managed to stay fluent in Mandarin.
After coming out of an induced coma, a woman experienced complete memory loss and identified herself as a man. She later discovered the presence of a catheter between her legs.
Sandra Ralic, 13, had only just started learning German at school in Knin, Croatia, when she fell into a coma in 2010. When she awoke, she was fluent in the language, but had lost her Croatian.
A Reddit user shared an interesting story about their father who, after being in a coma for eight weeks, had a surprising change in eye color. According to the user, their father's eyes went from green to blue upon waking up.
See also: Weird and wonderful facts about your body
Coma patients who woke up with shocking changes
From gaining a new language to losing a life-long addiction
HEALTH Curiosity
A coma is when a person enters a prolonged unconscious state, rendering them unresponsive to touch, light, or sound. While some cases last only a few days, there are instances that span weeks, years, or even decades. Despite the body's slowed functionality, the mind continues to operate, leading to bizarre and extraordinary occurrences.
Coma survivors have shared a range of incredible stories, often acquiring new abilities, developing new obsessions, or undergoing a complete transformation in their perception of the world.
Curious? This gallery unveils a collection of the most astonishing and bizarre experiences people have shared after waking up from a coma.