Lilli Bendriss opens up about her near-death experience on "Unexplained" – and now her special new Christmas ornament for Australian fans

It's not every day you come across a story that sends chills down your spine while warming your heart at the same time. But that's exactly what Lilli Bendriss is serving up right now. She's featuring in TV 2's hit series "Unexplained", and the buzz around the water cooler is real – just what on earth has she been through?

Death knocked on the door in Mexico

We know Lilli as the warm and cheerful personality from our screens, but beneath the surface lies an experience that could have changed everything. In Unexplained with Lilli Bendriss, she openly shares what happened when she was on holiday in Mexico as an 18-year-old. A seemingly innocent swim at the beach one day took a dramatic turn. She was pulled underwater by a powerful rip current.

"I only remember suddenly being underwater and not being able to come back up. It was completely silent, and I felt the strength leaving my body," she recounts on the program. The next few minutes were a nightmare. Friends managed to drag her onto the beach, but life had left her body. She had stopped breathing, and local lifeguards attempted resuscitation without success. At the hospital, she was declared clinically dead.

The miracle that defies explanation

The doctors had given up. Yet, after what can only be described as a minor miracle, Lilli woke up. Her heart started beating again on its own. This is what makes her story one of the most powerful in this year's season of "Unexplained". "There's no medical logic to what happened," she says herself, adding that she believes something greater was at play. The whole experience left a deep mark on her and has shaped her outlook on life.

• Dramatic rescue: Friends pulled her from the water, but she was without a pulse for several minutes.
• Clinically dead: Was declared dead at the hospital in Mexico before her heart suddenly started again.
• Aftermath: The experience has given her a unique perspective on life and death.

The Christmas ornament with a story to tell

It's not just on TV that Lilli is making waves at the moment. Those into decorations and festive spirit have probably noticed the new collection from Heim Christmas Ornaments. This year, you'll find the model "H11" – the Heim Julekule Lilli Bendriss H11 – an ornament she's helped design herself. It holds a very special place in her heart. The ornament features a symbolic pattern representing the fragility of life and the powerful story from Mexico. "You think I'd say no to creating a Christmas ornament? It's an honour!" she laughs.

With her honesty and warmth, Lilli Bendriss has once again shown she's so much more than a familiar face from the telly. Whether you're tuning into Unexplained or searching for the perfect Christmas gift, she leaves her mark. And maybe that's the whole point – some experiences are simply, well, unexplained.