Gabe Poirot Accident; A near-fatal skateboarding accident changed the life of Gabe Poirot after the then 20-year-old was thrown into the air during a high-speed crash that left him with severe brain injuries and fighting for his life.
The frightening incident occurred when Poirot’s skateboard struck an object in the road while he was traveling close to 30 miles per hour. The impact launched him roughly six feet into the air before he crashed headfirst onto the pavement without wearing a helmet.
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His friend, John Michael, who witnessed the accident, recalled the terrifying moments immediately after the fall. Poirot lay unconscious on the ground as friends desperately tried to help him while waiting for emergency services.
According to Michael, those at the scene began praying for Poirot as he remained unresponsive. He said they repeatedly spoke words of encouragement, hoping he would survive the severe injuries he had just suffered.
Emergency responders rushed Poirot to the hospital, where doctors quickly realized the seriousness of his condition. Medical teams placed him on a ventilator and began treating what was described as a major traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Forrest ‘Dell’ Moore, Vice Chief of Surgery involved in Poirot’s treatment, later explained that the injuries included multiple forms of brain trauma such as subdural hemorrhages, contusions, and other serious complications typically associated with life-threatening head injuries.
Because of the severity of the trauma, doctors placed Poirot in a medically induced coma in an effort to stabilize his brain and give his body a chance to recover. Physicians warned that the prognosis for patients with such injuries is often extremely poor, with many survivors facing lasting neurological damage.
While doctors focused on stabilizing his condition, friends, family members, and members of the broader faith community began gathering to pray for his recovery. According to Michael, the situation drew widespread attention online as people shared messages and organized prayer gatherings for the injured young man.
After spending 18 days in a coma, Poirot unexpectedly regained consciousness, surprising both loved ones and medical staff. In the days that followed, he gradually regained strength and began recovering far more quickly than doctors had initially anticipated.
Dr. Moore described the recovery as extraordinary, noting that patients with similar injuries rarely recover fully after such extensive treatment and prolonged coma care.
Within a short period after waking, Poirot was able to leave the hospital—an outcome many had once considered unlikely. His recovery has since been described by those involved in his care as nothing short of remarkable.
Following the experience, Poirot has shared his personal account of what he says he experienced while unconscious, describing a deeply spiritual encounter that he believes changed his perspective on life.
He has since written about the ordeal and his recovery journey in a book titled 18 Days in Heaven: I Left My Body. I Met Jesus. What He Told Me Will Wreck You, which details both the accident and the events he says occurred during his time in a coma.
Today, Poirot says the experience reinforced his belief in faith, gratitude, and purpose, encouraging others to appreciate life and the moments they often take for granted.