What happens when a person survives an experience where he or she comes face to face with death?

Dr. Jeffrey Long, a physician specialising in radiation oncology, gathered stories of hundreds of people who went through near-death experiences, and made an inspiring discovery: many of them come back to share stories of God's love.

Working with the Near Death Experience Research Foundation, Long administered a long survey about the how it is to almost die. The participants were asked: "During your experience, did you encounter any specific information/awareness regarding love?"

According to Long's article published by The Washington Post, 58.1 percent of the survey participants answered yes. A total of 32.4 percent meanwhile answered no, while the rest were unsure.

This prompted the expert to conclude that love "is clearly an important part of near-death experiences."

"This experience of deep love often carries within it an affirmation of unity or oneness between all people or even all things," Long said.

The physician added that what most of the participants experienced after facing death may be what theologians describe as the "omnibenevolence" of God. This means that they have come to realise that God's grace and charity are infinite or unlimited.

"These transformative experiences of a unique love — a love that is total, unconditional and enormous — speak not just to what happens after we die, but to what matters while we live," Long explained.

Long also provided actual anecdotes of some survey participants, where the feeling of God's love was very evident.

"I felt God as an all-encompassing presence — complete, total, and unconditional love in its highest form! I was surrounded by God's unconditional love, which was so much greater than human love. I was given the knowledge that God is real and loves me unconditionally — He exists and is real, and He is love," one of the respondents shared.