A devastating skateboarding accident in October 2021 left 20-year-old Gabe Poirot clinging to life in a coma for more than two weeks. What happened during those 18 days, he says, transformed everything he thought he knew about heaven, forgiveness, and the heart of Jesus.
Poirot’s remarkable account joins a growing collection of near-death testimonies, but his message carries a particular urgency—one he believes was given to him directly by Christ to deliver to a hurting world.
The fall that changed everything
The accident occurred on October 25, 2021. Poirot, then 20, was skateboarding without protective headgear when he fell and struck his head directly on the pavement. Emergency responders found him in critical condition and placed him on a breathing machine before transport. Medical staff immediately recognized the severity of his traumatic brain injury.
His parents, who were traveling in Virginia at the time, received the devastating call that their son’s survival was uncertain. But according to Poirot, while his body lay motionless in a hospital bed, his spirit was experiencing something entirely different.
Journey through the tunnel of light
Poirot recalls being pulled from his physical body the moment paramedics arrived on scene. He describes moving through a brilliant tunnel of light and looking down to witness his friend cradling his injured body in prayer. Then, he says, he found himself in a realm beyond earthly description.
What he encountered there would become the foundation of his mission for the years to follow.
When creation itself worships
According to Poirot’s testimony, heaven isn’t merely a destination. “Heaven is a person,” he said, describing an environment where mountains, trees, rivers, and even sand participated in continuous worship, singing “Worthy is the Lamb.”
When he stood before Jesus, Poirot expected judgment. Instead, he received something that shattered his understanding of grace.
The question that changed his perspective
With his face cast downward in shame over past mistakes, Poirot felt Jesus lift his gaze. Looking directly into his eyes, Christ asked him: “Gabriel, why are you concerned about that which is paid for?”
Jesus then revealed the wounds in his wrists, and Poirot says he saw his own name carried within those scars. “He did it just for me. Like I was his only one,” Poirot recalls.
Hope for parents who have lost children
During his time in what he describes as heaven, Poirot witnessed an area dedicated to children who had passed away. These young souls, he says, are waiting to reunite with their parents. This revelation became a crucial part of his ministry to grieving families. He now tells mourning parents directly: “You didn’t lose your child. Your baby’s waiting for you.”
The prayer that brought him back
On the 18th day of his coma, a family friend named Ginger entered Poirot’s hospital room and prayed audibly over his unconscious body, commanding him to wake up. Shortly afterward, he regained consciousness.
Before returning to his physical body, Poirot says Jesus gave him explicit marching orders: “Gabriel, tell them who I really am. Tell my family I’m coming back soon.”
Sharing the testimony worldwide
Poirot documented his experience in a book titled ‘18 Days in Heaven.’ He now travels extensively sharing his story through various media platforms and public appearances, driven by what he believes is a divine commission.
His central message echoes the words Jesus spoke to him during his near-death experience: shame and guilt have already been paid for through Christ’s sacrifice. For Poirot, this isn’t just his personal story—it’s the heart of the gospel message intended for everyone carrying the weight of past failures.
Read Gabe Poirot’s ‘18 Days in Heaven’ on Amazon. (We may earn a small commission if you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our ministry.)
WATCH: Gabe Poirot Talks About Meeting Jesus in Heaven and Miraculous Recovery
