A firefighter who suffered severe face burns has opened up about his extraordinary near-death experience — where he claimed to learn the meaning of life.
The Explosion and Aftermath
Lasse Gustavson, from Sweden, was on duty when he got caught up in a huge gas explosion — before spending two months in a medically induced coma. Lasse was 24 when a fireball erupted while he was inside a fire truck with his colleague Leif. The terrified pair had to run through burning gas, receiving terrible burns before being put to sleep once they reached hospital.
Two months later, Lasse woke up and was told by his mother that Leif had passed away, something he said he was already aware of after sharing his near-death experience with him. He revealed: “So what we say in our culture is that Leif passed away but my experience was that he has not just passed away — he had went home.”
The Afterlife Experience
As for what that home in the afterlife felt like, and what he experienced, he told the IANDS podcast: “I was very curious. I was like a child, you know, on New Year's on Christmas Eve. So I was thrown out in the nature. It was on a mountain ridge up on a big mountain ridge. And on my right side, it was a very very deep U-shaped valley. And it was a beautiful nature in this valley. It was a blue river in the bottom of the valley. And it was green forests and open meadows. It was wonderful nature. And on the other side of this valley, I had the same kind of mountain ridge with some cliffs on the edge and so on. So, wow. It was a really really wonderful well. And it was like a summer afternoon. It was calm. It was a good temperature. I was not freezing. It was not too warm. It was so like paradise.”
Return to Service and Motivational Speaking
Four years after the accident, Lasse rejoined the fire service, before he went on to help people who had suffered extreme trauma. He went on to inspire many people with his motivational talks — and on the recent podcast he opened up about what his near-death experience taught him.
Meaning of Life
Lasse, who has lived with face burns for 45 years, said: “You are not separated. You are not separated but I will also say that I find the meaning of life is to be kind, try to be kind. And when you are not so kind, say sorry, that was not the best way to act. I’m sorry. I apologise for that. But I also think the meaning of life is to experience your own skills, your own talents and develop them. And I think there is an old saying that the meaning of life is to find your own gift and then give it away.”
And as for why we are put on earth, he continued: “To develop and to understand that love is the answer. It sounds like an old cliche, doesn’t it? I think it’s something inside that answer and you will have another chance to do better.”
Fear of Death
As for whether he is afraid of death after his enlightening experience, the 69-year-old said he prefers to see it as coming home, something he has no issue with, despite enjoying life immensely. However, as for the dying part, he said that can be “tricky” and that while he is not afraid of death, the process of getting there is a scary thought.
After the interview was posted on YouTube, one person replied: “What a legend this guy is. You look at his face and see the horror he has gone through and yet still smiling and enjoying his life.” A second said: “This man is inspirational. Brave and cheerful despite what he has faced.”
