Atheist's Life-Threatening Jellyfish Encounter
In April 1982, Ian McCormack, a young New Zealander, found himself in a life-threatening situation while night diving off the coast of Mauritius. An atheist at the time, Ian was stung by five Box Jellyfish, known for their lethal venom. As he lay paralyzed and in excruciating pain, he had a vision of his mother in New Zealand praying for him, urging him to call out to God.
Near Death Experience with Jesus
Despite his skepticism, Ian cried out, "God, if you exist, show me your face and I'll pray." In that moment of desperation, he recalled the Lord's Prayer and sincerely prayed for the first time. Shortly after, Ian experienced a profound near-death encounter. He found himself in a dark, terrifying place he described as hell, surrounded by voices filled with malice. But then, a beam of light shone through the darkness, lifting him upwards toward an overwhelming presence of love.
Declared Dead but Miraculously Healed
"It felt like pure, unadulterated love flowing over me," Ian later recounted. In this radiant light, he encountered Jesus, who offered him a choice: to step into eternity or return to life. Seeing a vision of his mother, Ian chose to return, feeling compelled to share this newfound faith. When he revived in the morgue, doctors were astounded. Ian, who had been declared dead, now lived, and through prayer, he felt God's healing power restore his paralyzed body.
Life Transformed Through Faith
The transformation was undeniable. Ian walked out of the hospital completely healed, and over the following weeks, he devoured the Bible, his life forever changed. He became an ordained minister, dedicating his life to sharing the story of how Jesus intervened and gave him a second chance. Ian's journey from skepticism to faith is a powerful testimony of God's love and redemption.
