Vault: Near Death Survivors Reveal What Really Happens

Summary

The Bert Show – "Vault: Near Death Survivors Reveal What Really Happens"

Date: March 17, 2026
Host(s): Brandi and the Bert Show Cast
Summary by Podcast Summarizer

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Episode Overview

This powerful and engaging episode explores the experiences of people who have survived near-death situations. Through live calls and candid conversation, Brandi and the co-hosts invite listeners to share what went through their minds in those critical moments, how those experiences changed them, and whether there really is such a thing as a "life-flashing" moment. The discussion reveals a deeply human tapestry of trauma, gratitude, confusion, and—sometimes unexpectedly—struggles with meaning in the aftermath of survival.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Reactions to Near Death

• Most callers recount how events happened too fast for rational thought—survival was instinctive.
• For some, the realization of danger is slow to come; many experience memory gaps or emotional detachment during the event.
• The hosts probe whether survivors felt their lives "flashing before their eyes"—for most, the answer is more about confusion or a shocking blankness.

Memorable Quote:

“I had no time to think of my, you know, my life flashing before me. But I remember thinking, oh my God, I can't move.” – Caller 4, Subway Escalator Incident Survivor (08:45)

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2. How Near Death Changes (or Doesn’t Change) You

• Several callers mention a lasting appreciation for life, a sense of waking up each day glad to be alive.
• Others confess the effect was only temporary before old habits and routines returned.
• In one especially raw account, the aftermath brought depression and years of self-doubt, not just relief or gratitude.

Notable Exchange:

"It completely changes your life forever—"
“—Or is it just temporary and then you just go back to being Brandi?”
“It's been three years and I still think about it all the time.”
– Caller 1 (Cardiac Arrest Survivor) and Brandi (Host), (01:58–02:05)

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3. Specific Survivor Stories

• Cardiac Arrest Survivor (01:39):
  Walked into a bar, passed out, went into a coma; now appreciates mornings and values having a child with special needs—a decision she was advised against.
  Quote: “You're very glad to wake up every single morning.” (02:31)

• Seizure and Drowning Survivor (02:43):
  Suffered seizure while swimming, was pulled out by teammates and revived; recalls overwhelming relief and recognition upon seeing her father.
  Quote: “I was just so, like, happy to see someone that I knew and, like, just comforting feeling.” (03:16)

• Car Accident Survivor (04:46):
  Family involved in a rollover crash on Christmas; describes pain, shock, and the afterward realization that “our van wasn't supposed to make it.” Stresses how perspective shifts upon reflection.

• Bosnian Grenade Survivor (05:56):
  As a child during the Bosnian war, lay next to a grenade; survived thanks to instinct, although her mind went “blank” in the moment.
  Quote: “The only thing that helped me is I laid on the ground… the stuff from the grenade actually goes up instead of down.” (05:56)
  Quote: “All I could hear is a noise in my ear and it was ringing really loud… I couldn't hear anything. Literally, I was just kind of stunned.” (06:57)

• Subway Escalator Trampling (08:45):
  Manhattan rush hour panic led to trampling after a woman became caught in subway doors; survivor describes waking up with footprints all over her body, sadness and depression for years instead of “miraculous appreciation.”
  Quote: “For me... I actually was quite depressed for, I'm going to say, five years. It's an odd feeling and hard to put into perspective what happened to you.” (10:06)

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4. What Goes Through Your Mind? Fear, Instinct, or Emptiness?

• Some callers recall thinking about loved ones; others remember only blankness, confusion, or intense ringing in their ears.
• In the grenade story, the will to survive is overridden by shock and sensory overload.

Host Reflection:

"I imagine I would get this sense of, okay, I was saved here for some reason. And then I could see you sort of like searching for the rest of your life to find out what that reason why was I saved today? What was—what am I supposed to do here?" – Brandi (11:03)

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5. Viral Stories and Reactions to Survival

• Brandi shares a viral skydiving video where a man survives a failed parachute (08:48–08:33). The survivor’s reaction: checking body parts and letting out screams of joy. Quote: “You hear silence. Then you see the camera get up... just screaming overjoyed screams.” (08:17)

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Key Timestamps

• [01:10] — Brandi introduces the topic, opens calls for near-death stories
• [01:39] — Cardiac Arrest Survivor’s experience
• [02:43] — Seizure/Drowning Survivor describes revival and relief
• [04:46] — Car Accident Survivor recalls family’s traumatic rollover crash
• [05:56] — Bosnian war Grenade Survivor describes childhood survival and aftermath
• [08:45] — Subway Escalator Trampling; impact of trauma and road to recovery
• [08:48–08:33] — Brandi recounts a viral skydiving near-death video
• [11:03] — Host’s philosophical reflection on the “reason” for survival

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Notable Quotes

• “It definitely does change everything, like, how you see everything... I do remember seeing my dad and just, like, starting to bawl my eyes out because I was just so, like, happy...” – Caller 2 (03:16)
• “Honestly opened up my eyes better. And I appreciate life a lot more now.” – Caller 5 (Grenade Survivor) (06:30)
• “For me... I actually was quite depressed for, I'm going to say, five years.” – Caller 4 (Subway Survivor) (10:06)
• “You'd have to search for it, but I'm sure it's still there. I saw it online.” – Brandi (re: viral skydiving survivor clip) (08:34)

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Overall Tone & Takeaway

The episode is a blend of raw, sometimes dark honesty and gentle humor. Don’t expect simple, uplifting platitudes—some find gratitude, some find years of confusion or depression, and most agree: the moment itself is far less cinematic than movies would have you think. The Bert Show’s open, curious tone sets judgment aside and brings light to the widely different ways people make sense of surviving the unthinkable.

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Transcript

[Howie Mandel]

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[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Birch Show So I want to know everything. Like if you've been in a near death experience, you are sure this is it and everything happens so fast. I want to know what was going through your head at the time, who you thought about, did your life really flash in front of you when it was all over and you survived? Did it make your life better? Temporarily. And then everything gets back to normal? Was it worse afterwards? Here's Brandy. Good morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 1 (Cardiac Arrest Survivor)]

Good morning.

[Caller 2 (Seizure and Drowning Survivor)]

First of all, I absolutely love you guys.

[Caller 1 (Cardiac Arrest Survivor)]

I listen to you every morning.

[Caller 3 (Car Accident Survivor)]

Thank you.

[Caller 1 (Cardiac Arrest Survivor)]

But I went into cardiac arrest when I was 22. I had walked into a bar and immediately passed out. No idea what was going on. So no, I didn't have the whole, you know, knowing it was going to happen. I was in the hospital for two weeks, spent three days into a coma and it does.

[Caller 4 (Subway Escalator Incident Survivor)]

It completely changes your life forever or

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

is it just temporary and then you just go back to being Brandi?

[Caller 1 (Cardiac Arrest Survivor)]

It's been three years and I still think about it all the time. I was told never to have kids and I now have an 18 month old.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Congratulations.

[Caller 1 (Cardiac Arrest Survivor)]

Thank you. And with having a child who actually does have special needs, he has downs, but that's something I worry about, something that my husband can take care of.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Do you have a different appreciation for the day to day because this happened to you so quickly? Yes. Yeah.

[Caller 1 (Cardiac Arrest Survivor)]

You're very glad to wake up every single morning.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Thank you. For calling, here's Megan. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 4 (Subway Escalator Incident Survivor)]

Hi.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Hey.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Hi.

[Caller 5 (Grenade Incident Survivor from Bosnia)]

Good morning.

[Caller 2 (Seizure and Drowning Survivor)]

I love y'.

[Caller 3 (Car Accident Survivor)]

All.

[Bayard Winthrop]

Thank you.

[Caller 2 (Seizure and Drowning Survivor)]

So mine's almost the same as the last one, but a little bit different. When I was 17, I was swimming at film practice, and I had a seizure while I was swimming and pretty much drowned. My heart stopped because I was drowning, and it was at this time of year, too, so it was at an outdoor pool, so it was freezing. So also, after my teammates pulled me out of the water, I was kind of in a hypothermia stage.

[Caller 4 (Subway Escalator Incident Survivor)]

And it definitely does.

[Caller 2 (Seizure and Drowning Survivor)]

It definitely does change everything, like, how you see everything. Like, I mean, I kind of don't remember all that much because it happened really fast, But I do remember waking up, like, in a hospital bed and almost not knowing, like, where I was or what was happening or. But I do remember seeing my dad and just, like, starting to, like, just bawl my eyes out because I was just so, like, happy to see someone that I knew and, like, just comforting feeling.

[Caller 5 (Grenade Incident Survivor from Bosnia)]

I don't even know.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

This is gonna sound morbid, but when you were having the seizure and, you know, going under the water, did you know what was happening, when it was happening, or does your mind take you somewhere else?

[Caller 2 (Seizure and Drowning Survivor)]

Well, when I was having the seizure was a result of my heart stopping, I guess, because it did. And I, like, was drowning because, you know, like, when you pass out, you automatically start breathing again.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Mm.

[Caller 2 (Seizure and Drowning Survivor)]

Because since I was underwater, you can't breathe, obviously, so I was inhaling water. I don't really remember. Like, basically, I remember swimming, and then I remember being on the pool deck freezing my butt off.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Gotcha. Okay. Thank you for calling. I think I'm looking for callers that had a sense that this was about to happen. Like, you're.

[Caller 6 (Caller discussing near death experiences)]

Like a plane crash.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Yeah, like a plane crash.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

You know, it's on the way.

[Caller 6 (Caller discussing near death experiences)]

You had 30 seconds, a minute, two minutes. Process.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

What do you do? Do you try to make a phone call? Do you say prayers? Do you.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

You know, what are you thinking? And right before impact, does you know your life really flash before you?

[Caller 3 (Car Accident Survivor)]

I mean, that probably happened to. I mean, it happened to me and my family. But I think it probably come better if my dad told a story. Cause when I was in sixth grade, we were coming back from my aunt and uncle's house after dinner, driving home, it was about midnight or whatever on Christmas Day, and we got into a really, really bad car wreck. But my dad was driving a horrible car wreck. Another car ran the stop sign Our van wasn't supposed to make. Like, I still get emotional about it today because you think about it, but unless it's brought up, you don't think about it. Our van wasn't supposed to make it, according to, like, car reports a long time ago, because we did. We rolled. Our whole van rolled. The windows were shattered. Everything was a mess. Like, I mean, just the way we were positioning ourselves. You go back and you think about everything that went right in the situation. But when you're going through the car accident, you're like, you don't feel it. I mean, you're like. You're in just intense pain. And then you're like, oh, I'm fine. I mean, you just. I mean, you definitely have appreciation for life. Just like you said your dad saw

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

the car coming, so.

[Caller 3 (Car Accident Survivor)]

My dad is the one who saw it, so I'm sure he could speak better about, I mean, the near death experience. Because, I mean, our van was literally supposed to not make it if we were in a rollover crash.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Hey, Thelma. Go ahead.

[Caller 5 (Grenade Incident Survivor from Bosnia)]

Hi. Good morning. When I was 12, where I'm originally from, we had a war and literally the grenade fell two feet away from me. And the only thing that I could literally think about is I'm going to get shattered to pieces because you really can't survive that. The only thing that helped me is I laid on the ground right next to it and the stuff from the grenade actually goes up instead of down. So that was the only thing that actually saved my life.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Do you have training about that before? I mean, do you have that knowledge beforehand or was that just your instinct to go?

[Caller 5 (Grenade Incident Survivor from Bosnia)]

No, actually, it was just my first instinct. There's actually a lot more incidents that happened, but that was the only one that I actually remember and honestly opened up my eyes better. And I appreciate life a lot more now.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Where was this?

[Caller 5 (Grenade Incident Survivor from Bosnia)]

It was in Bosnia, Sarajevo.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

So when you're laying there and everything's happening so quickly and you think you're about to die, what are your thoughts at that point? Are you just like, I gotta survive, I gotta survive, I gotta survive, or does your mind go blank and shut down?

[Caller 5 (Grenade Incident Survivor from Bosnia)]

Really? It kind of went blank because all I could hear is a noise in my ear and it was ringing really loud. And I heard people kind of screaming, led me to come on in, but I couldn't hear anything. Literally, I was just kind of stunned.

[Caller 6 (Caller discussing near death experiences)]

Excuse me. Were you able to get up right after it happened?

[Caller 5 (Grenade Incident Survivor from Bosnia)]

Well, not right after. I had to lay down for at least around 10 minutes until everything kind of calmed down for me to be able to get up, not to get hurt at all.

[Caller 6 (Caller discussing near death experiences)]

Because I've heard that people were actually, when they first moved after something like that, were surprised at their ability to move.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

You're like doing a little self check.

[Caller 6 (Caller discussing near death experiences)]

Like you're almost. Yeah, like you see that movies or whatever. But like people are lying there and they're not moving. And then when they actually stand up, they're like, okay, look, I'm standing up. So I really am. I really did just survive that.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

There's a. There was a video floating around the Internet for a while there of a guy that was carrying a camera while he was skydiving and his chute didn't open. So you got the entire adventure down with him. And this guy hits the ground, hits impact. It's in the middle of a field and the camera sort of just in and out. You hear silence. Then you see the camera get up. And you're seeing it from the camera's angle, not his angle.

[Caller 6 (Caller discussing near death experiences)]

Is it like on his head or something? On his helmet.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Must be on his helmet or something like that. There's silence and you can hear him patting himself and then just screaming overjoyed screams.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Like I lived.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

I can't believe I lived. But nothing like blood curdling. Like he was celebrating, like it was New Year's Eve.

[Caller 6 (Caller discussing near death experiences)]

Can you find that video?

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

You'd have to search for it, but I'm sure it's still there. I saw it online.

[Caller 1 (Cardiac Arrest Survivor)]

Wow.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Yeah, it's intense.

[Howie Mandel]

Wow.

[Caller 6 (Caller discussing near death experiences)]

It's awesome.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Good morning, Emily, you're on Q100.

[Caller 4 (Subway Escalator Incident Survivor)]

Good morning, everybody.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

Good morning.

[Caller 4 (Subway Escalator Incident Survivor)]

My story, also, like the one yesterday actually is from New York City, where I'm originally from. About 13 years ago, while going to work, like thousands of people in Manhattan taking a subway. I was at Lexington Avenue on one of the largest escalators. Probably There is about 200 people fit on it. And there was an accident on the platform where the subway is. A woman had gotten stuck, a pregnant woman in the doors and it dragged her. And in a panic, all 200 plus people on the escalator started rushing it. I was about. I was very close to the top and I remember hearing the screaming, turning around, seeing over 200 people rushing. And I had no time to think of my, you know, my life flashing before me. But I remember thinking, oh my God, I can't move. The people in front of me still hadn't gotten off the escalator. I was trampled on. When I came to at the platform, actually the TV crews were There first reporters, before ambulances. Ambulances and such. One woman stayed with me. I don't know who she is. She kept telling me over and over it was going to be okay, that help was on the way and that she was a nurse. Miraculously, even with footprints on my face, all over my body. I had white stockings on and I had footprints all over my legs. The only injuries I sustained were I had a lot of ligament tears because my legs were kind of in a very odd position, the way I had been thrown to the ground. But I had no broken bones, no crushed bones. But for me, a lot of people think that you miraculously all of a sudden have an appreciation for life. For me, I actually was quite depressed for, I'm going to say, five years. It's an odd feeling and hard to put into perspective what happened to you. It's very hard to put in perspective. And you wind up, at least for me, it took five years for me to wake up and stop allowing people not to treat me a certain way. I didn't appreciate myself after that. It took me a long time, no doubt.

[Brandi (Host of The Birch Show)]

I think after something like that would happen to me. You never know until you're in it. But I imagine I would get this sense of, okay, I was saved here for some reason. And then I could see you sort of like searching for the rest of your life to find out what that reason why was I saved today? What was. What am I supposed to do here? You know, the bird show.