Experience Description

I was involved in a motorcycle accident. I had a lacerated liver and internal bleeding. While in hospital, I lost consciousness and was brought to operating room. I underwent ten hours of surgery and received twenty-two pints of blood.

At several times during the surgery, I was aware of events that were occurring in the operating room. I was also aware of the presence of my deceased grandmother, which gave me a strange sense of peace.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 'May 15, 1975'

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident. Surgery-related 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death'

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I lost awareness of my body

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Less consciousness and alertness than normal I don't understand the question.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I don't understand the question.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning Time was suspended and unfolded like fade-in scenes in a movie.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

The experience included: Presence of deceased persons

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes Met my grandmother. She indicated (without speaking) she was there to take me somewhere.

The experience included: Void

The experience included: Darkness

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? incredible joy

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control

Did scenes from the future come to you? Scenes from the world's future

The experience included: Boundary

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will

God, Spiritual and Religion:


What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate Catholic / Agnostic

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Moderate Agnostic

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:


During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:


Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Shared with family immediately afterward. Shared with friends sometime later. Family's reaction was comforting and relieved.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was probably real Time has dulled the emotional intensity, but not the details of the events.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No