A woman who survived being buried alive in a powerful earthquake shared her unique experience of encountering death twice before being revived by a mysterious presence. Maayan Sebbag was on a journey with a friend, exploring various items on her bucket list when the calamity struck. Their final destination was a remote panda reserve in China. While having lunch, the ground shook, trapping Maayan under debris, plunging her into darkness.
Amidst the chaos, two distinct voices resonated within her, accompanied by a guiding light that uplifted her spirit. She recollected the conflicting messages—one foretelling doom and the other promising survival. Her resilience hinged on which voice she chose to believe, as she narrated, “When I listened to despair, my energy dropped, but when I chose to hear hope, it lifted.”
Maayan, aged 44, managed to free herself from the rubble and was swiftly transported for medical attention. Despite her attempts to flee the disaster, a fall caused severe head and facial injuries. Trapped in what she described as a “tiny grave,” with critical injuries, she was eventually transferred to a temporary medical facility due to the collapsed hospital.
For days without sustenance, Maayan’s body weakened, leading her to a surreal experience of detachment. She described a peaceful transition, feeling a sense of belonging in a dark, serene space until a divine voice posed a profound question about her deepest regrets. This introspection led her to plead for a return to life, driven by unfulfilled desires.
Given a second chance under specific instructions from a higher power, Maayan defied medical advice to rest and embarked on a determined journey for survival. Despite enduring extensive surgery and a subsequent near-death encounter, she chose to return to her physical form, driven by unfulfilled aspirations.
Recounting her extraordinary tale in her book “Unburied,” Maayan aimed to demystify death and inspire others. In a poignant turn of events, she revisited the site of her ordeal years later, embracing a newfound purpose as a mother of four. Her narrative serves as a testament to resilience and the boundless possibilities beyond life’s trials.