In the majority of cases, being in a coma means that your life is put on hold for at least a couple of days. In extreme cases, it can be years or even decades. There’s just not really a great deal that you can turn your hand to without the use of, you know, your hands.
10 extraordinary things in a coma
10. Won The Copa Sudamericana
In November 2016, Brazilian soccer was rocked by a heartbreaking tragedy when LaMia Flight 2933 crashed in northern Colombia, killing every Chapecoense player en route to the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final – except three.
The three survivors were left‑back Alan Ruschel, goalkeeper Jakson Follman, and centre‑back Helio Hermito Zampier Neto, who lingered in a coma for two weeks after the crash. Neto finally awoke in mid‑December with no memory of the disaster.
Meanwhile, Atletico Nacional, Chapecoense’s fellow finalists, asked CONMEBOL to hand the title to their opponents as a gesture of solidarity. As a result, Neto became a champion while still in his hospital bed, never having to kick a ball.
9. Broke A World Record
Two individuals have officially set a world record while residing in a persistent vegetative state – the record for the longest time spent in such a state.
The first was Chicago‑born Elaine Esposito, who slipped into a coma at age six in August 1941 after a routine appendix operation. Defying a grim prognosis, she survived an additional 37 years, three months and 20 days, passing away in November 1978 as a Guinness World Record holder.
Esposito’s record stood for nearly three decades until it was eclipsed by Edwarda O’Bara, who entered a diabetic coma as a high‑school student in January 1970. A native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, she outlived both parents and remained unconscious for 42 years, a span believed to be the longest ever recorded.
8. Became Fluent In Spanish
Most of us have heard of foreign accent syndrome, where a stroke or brain injury causes a sudden, unfamiliar accent. Even rarer are reports of patients emerging from a coma able to converse fluently in a language they never studied.
Reuben Nsemoh, a 16‑year‑old from Georgia, claims he experienced exactly that after a nasty soccer injury in 2016. Days after waking, he began speaking perfect Spanish, despite having no prior knowledge, though his newfound skill gradually faded.
7. Inspired A Movie
Emily V. Gordon was dating future husband Kumail Nanjiani for eight months when she fell ill in 2007 and was placed in a medically induced coma. She was eventually diagnosed with adult‑onset Still’s disease and regained consciousness after twelve days.
This brush with mortality sparked a profound shift in their relationship. What had once seemed like a casual romance turned into a deep, lasting love, culminating in marriage just months after Emily’s recovery.
Their experience became the seed for the 2017 romantic comedy The Big Sick, which they co‑wrote. The film not only explores the impact of the coma on their bond but also offers a candid look at interracial dating in America.
6. Was Granted A Jewish Divorce
In 2014, an Israeli woman filed for divorce from her husband, who had slipped into a coma in 2007 after a motorcycle accident. Jewish law normally requires the husband’s consent for a divorce, yet a rabbinical court in Safed granted her request.
The case spiraled into years of legal battles, eventually reaching Israel’s High Court of Justice. Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef attempted to overturn Safed’s ruling, but the judges rejected his effort, stating that a rabbinical decree equivalent to a civil judgment cannot be retroactively annulled.
The woman was thus free to remarry, while her comatose husband became the first Jewish man ever to receive a divorce while unconscious.
5. Won A Landmark Legal Case
April 1989 saw a tragic disaster at the Hillsborough Stadium during an FA Cup semi‑final, where negligent policing led to the death of 96 Liverpool fans.
Among the victims, 94 died on the day of the tragedy. Lee Nicol survived the night but passed away a week later. The final victim, 18‑year‑old Tony Bland, lingered in a persistent vegetative state for almost four years.
When doctors determined there was no chance of recovery, Bland’s parents sued for the right to withdraw life‑support, igniting a national debate over the right to die. After years of appeals, the House of Lords finally authorized doctors to remove Bland’s feeding tube, marking the first English court ruling that discontinuing treatment could be considered good medical practice.
4. Became Convinced He Was Matthew McConaughey
British man Rory Curtis experienced a bizarre identity shift after waking from a coma caused by a severe car‑crash brain injury in 2014. Staring at his bathroom mirror, he didn’t see himself but the Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey, and even found himself speaking fluent French despite only brief teenage lessons.
Rather than lament the oddity, Curtis turned the episode into a fresh start, opting for a new career as a barber – a path far removed from acting.
3. Became A Sex Addict
In 2010, Swiss octogenarian Angelo De Luca suffered a fall from a plum tree, leading to a serious injury and a four‑day coma. Upon awakening, he displayed an insatiable sex drive, comparable to that of a lustful teenager, and began frequenting a local brothel.
His son, alarmed by the mounting expenses—approximately $5,200 spent on a young prostitute—took control of his father’s finances and placed him under strict house arrest, citing exploitation.
2. Saved A Life
Pregnancy is stressful under any circumstance, but it becomes exponentially more challenging when a mother contracts swine flu three months before her due date. British woman Valerie Leah faced this exact scenario in 2010.
Doctors placed her into a coma at Tameside General Hospital in Manchester out of concern for her unborn child. When she finally awoke, newborn son Oliver was placed in her arms.
After four months of intensive medical care, both mother and baby were discharged healthy. It may have been the first recorded instance of a pregnant woman surviving swine flu and delivering a healthy baby after a coma.
1. Became A King
Royal succession used to be a perilous affair, with crowns often passing to children who died shortly after. In June 2001, Nepal experienced a chillingly modern twist.
Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah opened fire on his own family at Narayanhity Royal Palace, killing 11, including his parents, the king and queen. He then turned the gun on himself, but instead of dying, he fell into a coma.
According to strict succession laws, Dipendra technically became king during his unconscious state, ruling Nepal for roughly 54 hours before his death.