Near death experiences

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I recently watched an interview with the great Larry Hagman (aka J.R. Ewing in the '80s soap Dallas) who said that he has no fear whatsoever of death as he has had a near death experience when he nearly passed away on account of his excess drinking of alcahol. Do you think so called 'near death' experiences are a taste of the after life, or a sign of the brain closing down and ultimately dieing?