Deathbed apparition

Essie Fox

Essie Fox suddenly became aware of a golden aurora surrounding her dead stepfather's head

As a writer of Victorian novels that have a definite Gothic twist, I’ve often been asked if I draw upon any personal events regarding ‘ghosts’ which are then included in my work.

I have had experiences that might be considered ‘supernatural’, but whether this is a real force, or an internal manifestation of extreme emotions such as grief, well, I am in two minds about such things.

But there is one event very clear in mind from the time of the death of my step-father — a man who had loved me as his own and for whom I had the greatest affection.

I was 28 when he died, and although not with him at that sad time, I did visit his body later that day, when he lay in the chapel of rest at St Michael’s Hospice in Herefordshire. His body lay in a dimly lit room with a single candle burning. My sister and I sat at either side of the bed, while my husband stood at the end.

What I saw next is quite hard to describe. This was a moment of acute loss, and admittedly I was in a state of shock, but suddenly I became aware of a golden aura of light shining around my stepfather’s head.

It did not feel strange at all — in fact it was comforting — but I didn’t think to say anything to the others in the room at the time.

It was only when we were driving away in the car that my sister said: ‘I know you’re going to think me mad, but did you see that yellow light shining around Dad’s body?’

My husband said ‘No’. But I felt such a sense of relief to think that I was not alone — that I’d not imagined that golden glow.

This is a personal story. Perhaps it should remain that way. However, I would be intrigued to know if anyone else has experienced such a phenomenon as this.

I have done a little research on the matter and have read accounts of nurses on hospital wards witnessing a golden glow around a body just before a death, but not continuing afterwards.

I do wonder if science could offer an answer — explaining that the glow we saw that day had a physical, chemical explanation and was only visible that day due to the darkened state of the room.

Either way, it was an astonishing thing, and remains a cherished memory. My stepfather was a very good man. If anyone deserved a halo, then it was surely him.

The Goddess And The Thief is published by Orion, £12.99.

dailymaily.co.uk