Amateur hockey player Billy Garaffa’s 16-minute clinical death during a 2022 game led to a divine encounter that transformed him from a nominal believer into a fervent witness for Christ, proving that God’s miraculous power still operates in our modern world. Miraculous Survival Against Medical Odds Billy Garaffa collapsed on the ice during a 2022 amateur hockey game, suffering ventricular fibrillation that stopped his heart completely. Medical professionals pronounced him clinically dead for sixteen minutes before successful resuscitation. Doctors later discovered rare collateral arteries in his heart—additional blood vessels that likely prevented permanent brain damage during the extended cardiac arrest. This anatomical feature, which Billy describes as “God built this miracle into me,” enabled his full recovery without neurological deficits that typically accompany such prolonged oxygen deprivation. Divine Encounter During Clinical Death During his sixteen minutes of clinical death, Billy experienced what he describes as standing “in the light” with God. He recalls feeling more alive than ever before, encountering the Holy Spirit, and receiving divine guidance. The experience included sensory details such as a sweet smell and an overwhelming sense of peace. Billy emphasizes that this wasn’t a dream or hallucination but a real encounter that fundamentally changed his understanding of God’s love and the simplicity of faith. His testimony adds to documented near-death experiences but stands out for its theological specificity and immediate life transformation. Faith Transformation from Nominal to Fervent Before his cardiac arrest, Billy maintained casual Christian beliefs without deep commitment. The near-death experience radically transformed his faith perspective, converting him from a nominal believer to an active witness for Christ. He now publicly shares his testimony through podcasts, interviews, and appearances on Christian media. Billy’s transformation demonstrates how divine encounters can instantly redirect lives toward spiritual purpose. His wife, Isabella, supports his ministry, noting that “faith doesn’t mean you don’t feel fear,” but rather that it means trusting God through life’s uncertainties. The Garaffa family’s experience illustrates God’s sovereignty over life and death circumstances. Billy’s pre-game prayer for protection, sensing unusual foreboding, shows divine preparation for the miraculous events. Isabella’s immediate prayer to Jesus from the hockey rink stands demonstrates faith in crisis moments. Their testimony encourages believers that God orchestrates circumstances for His glory and our spiritual growth, even in the midst of medical emergencies that appear devastating. Testimony Gaining National Recognition Billy’s remarkable story gained renewed attention in January 2026 through appearances on The Juice Radio and Fox News and featured coverage by CBN News. His testimony resonates with Christian audiences seeking evidence of God’s active presence in contemporary life. The story provides hope for believers facing medical crises and demonstrates that miraculous healings haven’t ceased in modern times. Billy continues sharing his experience through various media platforms, emphasizing God’s love and the reality of spiritual encounters that secular society often dismisses or explains away through naturalistic interpretations. Billy Garaffa’s extraordinary experience serves as powerful testimony that God’s miraculous power remains active today, offering hope to believers and challenging skeptics to consider spiritual realities beyond medical explanations. His transformation from nominal faith to passionate witness demonstrates how divine encounters can instantly redirect lives toward eternal purposes that transcend earthly concerns. Sources: ‘God Built This Miracle’: Hockey Player Died for 16 Minutes, Says He Spoke to God Hockey player says he stood ‘in the light’ with God during 16-minute death Hockey player details holy encounter after collapsing mid-game