After Death Documentary in the making
'CRUSHED TO DEATH and LIVES to Tell!'
'Crushed to death and lives to tell' is a true story packed with supernatural intervention and after death experiences. This Visual Word project is an inspired creative mission to visually and Biblically explain the after death experiences as experienced by hit and run victim, Barend Liebenberg after a seven ton (mass 7 ton – tarra 22 ton) truck drove over his torso. This happened in Porterville, South Africa in 1992. After 25 years Barend is a survivor of one of the worst accidents one can imagine, and have never undergone any professional counselling to help him cope with the trauma he went through. He is an active, healthy member of society, married for almost 19 years and blessed with three healthy children. Although he does admit that coping with the trauma has not at times been easy, he claims that through it all it has been his precious relationship with the Almighty God (YHWH) that empowered him to overcome the challenges of trauma.
The SCOPE of the Project
Depicting both the after death experiences and the supernatural intervention is the two aspects of this story that is challenging but very important...
Storytelling technique
A hosted-re-enactment film with a jot of recreation is planned. Apart from re-enacting the accident scene, it will also visually explore the supernatural interventions that took place in Barend's body. These visual explorations will be confirmed and discussed by three eyewitnesses in the medical field and eyewitnesses that saw the accident with their own eyes. The film will also visualize the spiritual world seen by Barend at times when he had out-of-body-experiences.
A Biblical Foundation
Over the years since the accident, with the help of selected Christian ministers in the field of the after death realm and much research that confirmed Barend's experiences, Barend has been in the fortunate position of receiving much insight into the after death and much explanation and confirmation out of the Bible. The film will therefore also endeavor to explain these after death experiences from a Biblical view.
Project Stages
Finished Stages
Phase 1: Filming - took place from 4 to 9 September 2015.
Read the article 'Recreating a miracle on film', which is about the impact filming "Crushed to death and lives to tell" had on the camera crew of Imagenheart. Written by Mandy Kotze, DIT for Imagenheart (digital image technician).
Current Stages in Progress
Phase 2: Final script writing.
Phase 3: Three filming phases still needs to be done (eye witness interviews and Barend narrative).
Phase 4: After death- and supernatural intervention 3D editing phase.
Phase 5: Editing, coloring and final editing.
STAND WITH US... Pray for the successful finalizing of the project
Impact on the Community
The Porterville South Africa Community learns of the 'after death' and sees the result of all their prayers
The community of Porterville stood steadfast in prayer during the time of the accident in 1992. Barend, therefore, waited for an opportunity to bring a message of hope to this community and share his encouraging testimony with them. During the phase 1 filming in Porterville, South Africa, Barend at last had the opportunity to share his story at the Dutch Reformed premises and invited the whole town to come and listen.
SCROLL DOWN to read the articles and view photos...

Actors Marelize Coetzé & Hanlie Coetzé performing well under Guidance of Director of Photography, Desmond Denton of Imagenheart
Wonderwerk op Porterville Verfilm
PORTERVILLE AANSKOU DIE ONMOONTLIKE – Sept. 2015
Arbei in gebed is seker nog nooit só in ‘n samekoms kollektief beleef as Donderdag aand, 10 September 2015 in die Porterville NG Kerksaal nie. Mense van die distrik het saamgekom om Barend Liebenberg, die seun wat almal 23 jaar terug voor gebid het se storie te hoor. Miskien was dit die vrug van hul gebed wat die gehoor geïnspireer het, want voor hulle staan ‘n man wat deur ‘n 7-ton (MASSA: 7- ton TARA: 22-ton) trok omgery is en gesterf het, maar nou leef hy? Of miskien was dit die eenheid wat ‘n dorpseun se stryd na oorlewing soveel jaar terug bewerkstellig het en nou met ‘n samekoms herroep is wat die gehoor geïnspireer het? Wat ook al die antwoord, die eenheid ervaar was tot stigting van die geestelike moraal van die dorp, veral met die aanskoue van die herskepping van die ongeluk wat Sondag, 6 September, op die hoek van Voortrekker – en Porter straat plaasgevind het onder leiding van Sword Productions se Visual Word en Imagenheart se regiseur Desmond Denton, en nou vlak in die geheue van die aanhoorders gelê het. Terugvoering was onder andere “… ongelooflike getuienis wat jy gedeel het”, “net een woord, inspirerend!”, ” Sjoe Barend na al die jare. Steeds so inspirerend…”.
Op grond van die berig in die Die Courant (Swartland Streekskoerant) oor Barend se storie, gepubliseer 9 September 2015, “Wonderwerk ná 23 jaar verfilm op Porterville”, skryf een persoon aan Barend, “Ons sal daardie dag nooit vergeet toe die ongeluk met jou gebeur het nie. Ek hoor nog hoe ons mense onder mekaar sê, …het jul gehoor van die lorrie wat Dr. Liebenberg se seun omgery het…”. ‘n Ander skryf, “…My sus, ….. sê sy onthou daardie tyd moes hulle elke oggend in klas by 24 Riviere Laerskool bid vir ‘die kinders agter die ystergordyn’ en vir Barend Liebenberg. Mense het Barend voorgekeur en orals waar verfilm het. Een boer het op ‘n verlate plaaspad met Barend gesels oor die tyd en gesê, “…almal het daardie tyd vir jou gebed… so ‘n storie moet uitgaan!…” . “Ek het jou nog in Tygerberg hosp besoek… Toe ek gister die koerant ontdek met jou berig, was ek in ekstase. Het so baie oor jou gewonder.”, ” Goodmorning, I was so grateful unto our God for your testimony, my husband and I was so blessed…”, “Dagse!! Broer, … ek het u berig gelees in die koerant en op nuut kan ek weer besef hoe Genadig en Liefdevol is die God wat ons aanbid…”.
Die kameraspan se ‘Drone’ vlieënier was Sondag, 6 September tydens die verfilming, onkant gevang toe ‘n verbygaande motor naby die ongelukstoneel parkeer en ‘n jong dogter na hom aangehardloop kom om te hoor of alles onder beheer is met die ongeluk wat daar plaasgevind het en of hulle kan help. Dis toe dat die kameraspan besef watter impak hierdie ongeluk van 23 jaar gelede, 27 Maart 1992 14h00 die middag, nou weer op die gemeenskap maak. Die volle impak van ‘n noodlottige ongeluk het nou plaasgevind as gevolg van die herskepping en verfilming wat so werklik voorgekom het, maar hierdie keer draai die omstanders wat wou help en bystaan OM met ‘n geel getuienis pamfletjie in hul hand wat die wonderwerk van 23 jaar terug nou vir hul ‘n groter werklikheid maak. Baie het nie die ongeluk 23 jaar terug aanskou nie en dalk het dit oor baie se koppe gegaan van hoe noodlottig dit werklik was, maar nou 23 jaar later het almal die geleentheid om die erns weer te aanskou. Sommiges het dit Sondag 6 September tydens die verfilming aanskou, maar almal gaan dit op DVD kan aanskou sodra die produksie klaar is.
Selfs die internasionale filmspan wat hulle by die ‘Crushed to death and lives to Tell!’-produksie, wat deur Sword Productions se Visual Word gemaak word, aangesluit het se lewens is binne twee dae se tyd geïmpak. So skryf Mandy Kotzé, DIT (digital image technician) vir Imagenheart se filmwerk vir die ‘Crushed to death and lives to Tell!’-DVD, ‘n kort artikel oor haar wedervaringe saam met Barend en sy span tydens 5 – 6 September 2015 se verfilming om en in Porterville. Sy skryf, “If I were to take anything away from the experience, as Im sure many would agree, one was almost sad to leave as the journey had come to an end. However, speaking for myself, I was able to take something greater away from the weekend’s shoot as I felt both a gratitude towards the life that I was given and an appreciation for other’s that have a strength, I could never have felt possible if it weren’t for meeting such amazing people. I would like to thank everyone that was part of this amazing journey that weekend…” Read the full article, ‘Recreating a miracle on film’
Barend en sy vrou, Liezl, wil die Porterville gemeenskap bedank vir hul samewerking. Dankie aan Villa Cho-co-latt gastehuis wat die verblyf vir die hoof kameraman geborg het asook die ontbyt van die hele kamera- en grimeer span van Imagenheart. Dankie aan Tannie Sebetta Albertyn wat die res van die kamera- en grimeer span se verblyf geborg het. Dankie aan Mac Jordaan van 22 Waterval, vir die verblyf van Barend, sy gesin en hul gebedspan vir 10 dae. Dankie aan Oranje Slagtery wat bygestaan het met bydraes. Spesiale dank aan plaaslike akteurs en helpers wat hul uitstekend van hul taak gekwyt het naamlik Marelize- en Hanlie Coetzé, Jacques Marais, Banie Marais, Andre de Jager, Anina Bester, Mynhardt Loubser, Michiel Carstens, Lettie Burger, Josua en Sebastiaan Steenkamp, Gezelma Steenkamp en spontane omstanders by die ongelukstoneel. Dankie ook aan die Hospitaal en Matrone Martel Fourie vir jul spesiale vergunning tydens die verfilming van die hospitaal tonele. Die Bergrivier Munisipaliteit en verkeerspolisie kan ons ook uitsonder en bedank vir hulle veilige en flink diens. Laastens, ons dank ook aan Ds. Albe Theunisen vir die beskikbaarstelling van die NG Kerk lokaal tydens die getuienisaand van 10 September 2015 en fotograaf, Karien Jordaan, vir die pragtige foto’s geneem tydens die aand.
The following articles appeared in the district newspaper, 'The Courant' in 2015:
Oorspronklike artikel – artikel verskyn 9 September 2015 in Die Courant – Visit article
Tweede artikel in Die Courant – 14 October 2015 – Visit article