An Unnamed Physician's Near-Death Experience and Astral Projection

A well-known New York City physician, while alone in Florida, was struck with paralysis. Believing death was near, he watched the symptoms. He lost consciousness but suddenly felt free from pain and found himself in the home of a distant friend, witnessing their actions and conversations. When he tried to speak to them, they did not hear him until his friend suddenly looked at him and expressed astonishment at seeing him, thinking he was in Florida. The doctor felt repelled as the friend approached. Later, the doctor heard a voice offering him the choice to remain or return to earth to finish his work. Choosing to return, he re-entered his body. He subsequently confirmed through correspondence that his friend had actually experienced the visitation at the same time and perceived him clearly.

The physician involved was Dr. Isaac Kaufman Funk, a well-known publisher. He personally related the account to the public in 1905, describing his experience during a bout of paralysis while alone in Florida. Dr. Funk emphasized that he observed the approaching symptoms as a medical expert, choosing not to call for assistance to avoid alarming others.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 72, No. 47 (Nov 24, 1910), pp. 739–740):

He was alone in Florida when attacked with paralysis. He knew, as a physician, that he was dying, and as previous symptoms told that he would die in this way he did not wish to alarm anyone by calling assistance. Believing that death was inevitable, he went to bed determined to watch, as medical expert, the approach of death. The paralysis gradually crept from his feet to his body, and finally he became unconscious. Then, suddenly, again he was thoroughly conscious, and felt himself wholly free from pain. He wondered if this was death. He thought of a friend whom he had long known, a thousand miles distant. In a few moments he was in the presence of his friend at his home, saw the members of his family assembled, noted what they said and what they were doing. He spoke to them, but could not attract their attention, when suddenly his friend's eyes were riveted on him and he cried in astonishment: 'Why, Doctor, are you here? I thought that you were in Florida,' and he stepped forward to greet him. The doctor felt a sudden repulsion as his friend approached, and he was instantly back in his body in Florida. He was so impressed by the experience that he wrote to his friend, and found that at the very time he had been in his friend's home, his friend had seen him and had spoken to him as described. The doctor was told by a voice that he could remain or return to earth to finish his work. He chose to return, and he is now in his usual health.