The short answer is that they can see it happening. Lots of people also have the same ability, but rarely as well.

Here's an example. Go to a great big ocean. Pick a calm day that is so quiet that there isn't a ripple in the water anywhere. Now, look at what ripples you see. Each ripple is caused by some boat or whatever. All you need to do is to interpret the ripples.

An event is where the ripples coverge. The ripples must arise from the different sources of all the properties that we observe when the event occurs. At the same time, when we analyze an event, all we find is its properties, so we can equate the properties of the event with its nature. (This is a quantum definition, but it works here.)

Now, consider that the imaginary ocean has lots and lots of different dimensions of water, parallel seas, some that we sense by touch, some by smell, some by sight, some by intuition and so on. As properties come together, so that they can interact to create the definition of an event, a person at rest can sense the ripples, and thus can sense changes in health, changes in temperature, changes in location and so on. 

Next time you hear a train coming, you're doing the same thing. No biggie.

dave

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Actually I don't think they do know.  The reason I feel this way is that some people are greeted by those who may not necessarily remember them who had a large spiritual impact on their life and didn't even know it.

Therefore, the dying person PULLS those certain people or ? (sometimes pets greet the dying person) to themselves when they die.  This is how Jesus appears to some people, and how he would greet many people at once, but as individuals.  This is why some relatives appear and others don't.  This is why friends appear sometimes and not relatives.  Just like everything else in the afterlife, it's up to the dying person, not those already in the afterlife.

simple.  I haven't proven this.  Just my opinion - but I think it has traction.