Man Frozen to Death, Brought Back to Life

Allentown, Pa. (WTXF) For the first time, the patient, doctors and family speak out after 25-year-old Justin Smith was found by his father, completely frozen dead in a snow bank.

Justin had fallen while walking home in a blistering snowstorm last February in McAdoo, Pa.

"I put the car in park and I just ran to him and I started shaking his head. And I said, "No, you can't leave me. You can't leave me," said Justin's dad, Don Smith.

Doctors at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest say he couldn't be pronounced dead while he was frozen so they started warming him up -- inside and out -- and shocking his heart. That's when things took a miraculous turn.   

"Next thing, I know I'm waking up in Cedar Crest Hospital. Family was all around me. I was shocked," Justin explained "I knew my pinkies were gone It could have been a lot worse. They went the extra effort and I can't thank them enough. They're amazing and I can't thank them enough."

After months of recovery and now minus his toes and a couple of fingers  Doctor James Wu says Justin is completely normal. His back to working on his degree in psychology and playing golf.