Health3 min(s) read
Published 11:05 17 Apr 2026 GMT
A hospice carer and end-of-life nurse has opened up on a common occurrence when it comes to people who are approaching death.
Katie Duncan, known online as 'Death Care Coach', has amassed a following of over 190,000 on TikTok through her content around death education.
People in the industry are often exposed to some of the more chilling aspects of the end-of-life process, though they can also be left questioning if some of it is 'mystical'.
The health expert, from Maryland, is a qualified nurse practitioner, though she calls herself a 'death care coach'.
Like many others in the field with a social media platform, Katie wants people to "gain more comfort and peace" when it comes to someone reaching the end of their time on Earth.
She is also responsible for making the process as comfortable for patients as they approach the light, though in doing so, Katie has noticed some patterns among them, to do with behaviors and movements which are displayed close to death.
Katie explained that one of these "unexplainable phenomena" is when a patient inexplicably reaches upwards, in the direction of the sky.
She revealed that this can often look like they are reaching out for something, or trying to "hold something that is above them."
Taking to TikTok, the end-of-life specialist said that while a scientific explanation is lacking, she believes that there is a reason for this.
She explained: "In my personal experience working with people who are dying, this reaching towards someone or something above them, is really common,
"You will literally see the person reach up, and almost look like they are trying to touch someone or hold someone's hand."
"Sometimes this is associated with what we call end of life visions or other end-of-life experiences - when someone will actually vocalizes that they are seeing someone or something," Katie revealed.
The health professional said that the reach to the sky is similar to terminally-ill patients seeing an "angel" or a "bright light" when it is almost their time.
She recalled: "Very commonly, it is a loved one or family member or pet, someone who has died before,
"And the person who is dying is vocalising that they're seeing this person.
"But sometimes, you see a person reach and they don't say anything at all."
Katie described it as "one of those mystical parts of the dying process," reassuring viewers: "Most commonly, the person does not appear to be in pain or distress, and we also know that other end-of-life visions and experiences tend to bring the dying person a lot of peace and comfort."
Prior to popular belief then, it looks like it's a wholesome and possibly wholesome thing that occurs for most.
Taking to the comments, one user shared: "My mom kept saying she saw Jesus. He had a sign that said he was waiting for her."
Another added: "Thank you, my father did just that a few hours before he passed."
A third said: "My mum did this for quite a while before she passed. She also said she could see relatives who has passed many many years ago.
"I knew that this was happening as it was nearing the end of her life."
But a fourth admitted: "I was terrified when I saw my dad so that reach. I knew the end was near."
