Doctors shocked after woman who was clinically dead for 17 hours woke up with one emotional request

Doctors were left seriously scratching their heads after a woman who was clinically dead for 17 hours woke up as medics were prepping to take her organs for donation.

Back in 2008, Velma Thomas, from Virginia, was rushed to hospital after suffering a life-threatening heart-attack.

It was there that she had two further heart attacks and, as a result, was placed on life support.

Velma Thomas was pronounced clinically dead for a staggering 17 hours (ABC)

Velma's heart stopped beating a staggering three times and she was pronounced clinically dead, after doctors detected no brain activity for 17 whole hours.

However, in a shocking turn of events, the patient had an incredible breakthrough.

Just 10 minutes after being taken off life support, while doctors were preparing to remove her organs for donations, Velma woke up and made one request - she asked for her son, Tim.

Speaking after the frightening ordeal, Tim: "We just prayed and prayed and prayed. And I came to the conclusion she wasn't going to make it.

Velma holds the record time for recovering from clinical death (ABC)

"I was given confirmation from God to take her off the ventilator and my pastor said the same thing. I felt a sense of peace that I made the right decision. Her skin had already started hardening, her hands and toes were curling up. There was no life there."

What is Lazarus Syndrome?

The incident, which was hailed as a 'miracle' by doctors, is an incredibly rare medical phenomenon known as Lazarus Syndrome.

Lazarus Syndrome describes the spontaneous return of a normal cardiac rhythm after failed attempts at resuscitation.

It is also used to refer to the spontaneous return of cardiac activity after the patient has been pronounced clinically dead, with Velma holding the record time for recovering from a clinical death.

The name of the phenomenon has biblical origins as it was named after Lazarus of Bethany, who was famously brought back to life by Jesus Christ in the New Testament's Gospel of John.

Healthline says the syndrome is 'very rare' and only happens after CPR is performed.

"Many doctors think air trapping due to hyperventilation during CPR is the most likely cause of this syndrome," the experts explain.

"Doctors can avoid declaring someone's death by observing the person for at least 10 minutes after CPR stop."

There are a handful of other cases of people clinically dying and then coming back to life including Charlotte Holmes who 'died for 11 minutes'.

She later shared exactly why she felt no fear as she allegedly reached the other side.