A father who co-wrote a book with his son about how the boy visited heaven after a car wreck was telling the truth, his family has said - even though the youngster has now denied the tale. Alex Malarkey, now 16, was in a coma for two months and left paralyzed after the wreck in 2004, but when he awoke, he claimed an angel had lifted him up to heaven where he met Jesus and Satan. With his father, Kevin Malarkey, he wrote best-selling book 'The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven' in 2010 - but this week, Alex claimed the whole story was a lie.
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Alex Malarkey said he visited heaven and met Jesus while in a coma for two months at age six following a car crash in 2004
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He then wrote the best-selling book with his father Kevin, who is recently separated from Alex's mother
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Now Alex has written an open letter to publishers saying he made it all up
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His mother says Alex receives no money from the sale of the book
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But Kevin Malarkey's family say they stand by him, saying: 'Kevin has always told the truth. He's not sure why Alex is saying this'
'It is both puzzling and painful to watch the book @placeholder to not only continue to sell, but to continue, for the most part, to not be questioned.'