Experience Description

I was involved in a major auto accident. I went head-on into a palm tree. I was going about fifty to sixty mph (sole person in the accident; fell asleep at the wheel).

I lay in emergency at the hospital being treated and stabilized. While I lay on an operating table I first experienced a sense of flying (or being weightless) going nowhere in particular. I was going in and out of what seemed to be unconsciousness. Then I actually sailed above my bed, enabling me to see down on myself on the operating bed and actually seeing the tops of everyone else's heads - doctors, nurses, and family members - from what seemed to be about fifteen to twenty feet high above everyone. Simultaneously, I was having a clear sense and mind of what was happening. I entered a real feeling of unbelievable calmness and sereneness, and peace. I was faced with the choice of going beyond (death) or coming back and surviving the trauma and near death. I believe I chose not to go, or the choice was made for me, I'm not too sure of that part. Saw a bright light appear ahead of me, but never reached it.

The best way I could explain it would be in a capsule of some sort, with no air (maybe vacuum sealed) and sailing at a real calm and weightless speed. And having a number of thoughts (about family, myself and so on - real spiritual sense) and a feeling of such peace and tranquility. It never gave me a feeling of fear whatsoever. Once the choice of surviving was done, I never had anything even close to that type of experience whatsoever. And one I could never forget!

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 1974

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident 'Major auto accident. Many contusions, lacerations...including major head injury.' Life threatening event, but not clinical death .

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes
I clearly left my body and existed outside it

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? More consciousness and alertness than normal As above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Not sure because of the drugs and so on that were given to me in emergency.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Did your vision differ in any way from normal? Something seen through an unconscious or dreaming-type state.

Did your hearing differ in any way from normal? Everything said pertaining to my situation, I was hearing, and very clearly.

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

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

The experience included: Darkness

The experience included: Light

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? Yes

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Explained above.

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

The experience included: Special Knowledge

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? Uncertain

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 Raised in the Catholic church but have not been church going

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Moderate Same

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? Yes

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain

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

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? All.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I've shared with a few close people. Often wondered of my purpose on earth. Maybe a real purpose of my existence.

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 definitely real. When I floated above everyone I had a view that could only be seen from that perspective (floating above). I saw everything from that perspective.

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