Midland Dad Pronounced 'Dead' for Four Minutes After New York Marathon
Richard Green, a 62-year-old father from the Midlands, faced a harrowing ordeal after completing the New York Marathon, being pronounced "dead" for over four minutes. The incident, which occurred on November 1, 2009, saw him collapse due to an unintentional overdose of painkillers taken for a heel injury sustained during training.
Hearing the Unthinkable
Richard, who grew up in Bordesley Green and later moved to Solihull, recalls being fully aware but unable to move or speak as paramedics assessed him. He heard them state he had no pulse and inform his wife, Debbie, that he was gone. Debbie reportedly passed out upon hearing the news and was taken away on a stretcher, adding to the chaos of the moment.
Richard describes the experience as a profound auditory awareness, noting that hearing can continue for approximately four minutes after death. He became conscious of the ambulance journey to St. Luke's hospital in New York, where he flatlined and was resuscitated a total of three times that day.
A Swift Recovery and Life-Altering Insights
Despite the severity of the incident, Richard spent only one night in hospital before being discharged the next day. He frames this near-death episode as a "rebirth" that sharpened his senses and radically shifted his priorities. He now values friendship, kindness, and giving over status, money, or possessions, focusing on the journey of life rather than the destination.
His story is detailed in a memoir titled The Luckiest Dead Man Alive: A Near-Death Experience Memoir That Will Change How You See Life. Richard emphasizes that the account is grounded in real-life experiences, drawing on his working-class Birmingham upbringing and love of music, rather than being purely spiritual or clinical.
Impact and Legacy
A former driving instructor who taught learners, including young people with autism, ADHD, and anxiety, Richard says the experience transformed how he lives and what he worries about. The memoir has resonated with readers, some of whom claim they haven't read a book since school, and it is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Richard hopes his story leaves only "a footprint" behind, inspiring others to cherish life's moments.
