[Transcript from the Merv Griffin Show 1985]
Merv Griffin Enterprises
Television production company
Merv Griffin Air Date: 01/25/1985 For Caption Service
Production Date: 01/10/1985
[Transcript from the Merv Griffin Show]
Merv Griffin: Welcome to the show. Today, we have a guest whose story will challenge everything you think you know about life and death. On December 10, 1984, Scott Arnold was pronounced clinically dead for ten minutes. But during those ten minutes, he claims to have lived what felt like 80 years of another existence. Scott, welcome.
Scott Arnold: Thank you, Merv. It’s great to be here.
Merv Griffin: Let’s start at the beginning. December 10, 1984—what happened that day?
Scott Arnold: It was an ordinary day until 11:48 a.m. when my heart stopped. I was clinically dead—no heartbeat, no brain activity. For ten minutes, I was, by all definitions, gone.
Merv Griffin: But during those ten minutes, something extraordinary happened. You’ve said it felt like 80 years of another existence. Can you describe it?
Scott Arnold: It’s hard to put into words, Merv. I lost all sensory perceptions—no touch, no smell, no temperature—but I experienced vivid visions. Time wasn’t linear. Past, present, and future seemed to collapse into one. These weren’t dreams; they were more vivid than waking life.
Merv Griffin: Was there one vision that stood out?
Scott Arnold: Yes, one that I can’t forget. I saw an extinction event—a massive asteroid colliding with Earth on April 4, 2044. It wasn’t just a visual; I felt it as though I was living through it.
Merv Griffin: That’s chilling. Then, at 11:58 a.m., you came back to life. How did that happen?
Scott Arnold: That’s the miraculous part. No one intervened—no CPR, no defibrillation. My heart just started beating again. When I woke up, the medical staff looked terrified. They didn’t know what to make of it.
Merv Griffin: How did your life change after that?
Scott Arnold: It was overwhelming. The media frenzy was intense-reporters everywhere, endless questions. I couldn’t escape the attention. Then, your production team called me.
Merv Griffin: And you hung up on them!
Scott Arnold: I did. I thought it was just another attempt to exploit my story. But then you called me personally, and I could tell you genuinely wanted to understand my experience.
Merv Griffin: I’m glad you decided to come on. During that appearance, we talked about something fascinating—you took an IQ test. What were the results?
Scott Arnold: Before the incident, I already had a high IQ—161, tested in junior high. Afterward, I went to UCLA for another test. My IQ had increased to 164.
Merv Griffin: That’s remarkable. By all accounts, your brain should have been damaged from the lack of oxygen.
Scott Arnold: Exactly. The doctors were baffled. Instead of damage, my brain seemed sharper than ever.
Merv Griffin: Let’s go back to the asteroid vision. Around that time, NASA was discussing asteroid deflection plans. Did any of their ideas mirror what you saw?
Scott Arnold: Yes, they did. NASA was exploring nuclear deflection strategies—essentially nudging an asteroid off course. It was eerily similar to what I saw in my vision.
Merv Griffin: Do you think this vision was a glimpse of the future?
Scott Arnold: It felt like more than a hallucination, Merv. It was too vivid, too coherent. Whether it was prophetic or something else, I can’t dismiss it.
Merv Griffin: How has this experience changed your perspective on life and death?
Scott Arnold: Completely. It’s made me believe that consciousness might persist beyond clinical death. It’s also made me question whether some experiences are meant to guide or warn us.
Merv Griffin: Scott, this has been incredible. What’s the one takeaway you want to leave with people?
Scott Arnold: I want people to keep an open mind. There’s so much we don’t understand about life, death, and the universe. Even if my story doesn’t resonate, I hope it inspires others to ask questions and explore possibilities.
Merv Griffin: Scott Arnold, thank you for sharing your story. It’s been an absolute honor.
Scott Arnold: Thank you, Merv.
[End of Transcript]
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