Experience Description

I was 'partying' with a friend of mine when I was seventeen. We were at the beach. I inhaled this type of gas (that has the potential I found out later of freezing your lungs instantly). I just went black. I don't even remember going out. The next think I remember is 'standing' in the middle of a vortex tunnel with a person in silhouette standing at the end of the tunnel. I would say the tunnel was approximately thirty yards. I could not see the face but he/she wore a garment that was very loose and flowing to his/her right. The tunnel was interesting because it was swirling with all pastel colors. The person at the end had their arms stretched out to me. I remember not really feeling scared, but more confused as to where I was. The last thing I remember doing is looking down to see that I was 'levitating' in this standing position, but that the tunnel was circling under my feet about ten feet down. The circumference of the tunnel I would estimate to be about (it's hard to remember) twenty feet. It was really beautiful. No words were spoken. No movement of air. No sensation of any temperature at all (neither warm nor cold). That was it. I came back and I was fine -- although a little shaken to say the least.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: February 20, 1983

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accidental overdose Life threatening event, but not clinical death Inhaling CO2 cartridges.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Positive

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Uncertain Parts of my body did not seem to be there. I'm not really sure if my feet were there.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Very conscious but confused.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning There did not seem to be a sense of time.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. No sound at all. Although there appeared to be a wind swirling the colors in the tunnel and the person's garments, I heard no wind sound either.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes Did not pass through a tunnel, remained at the beginning of it.

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes A person in silhouette. Could not make out any features. Wore loose garments. Especially around wrist area the garment was longer.

The experience included: Light

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes Bright yellowish-white light.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm The tunnel was beautiful. I seemed to be there only a short time.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Confusion -- but not really scared.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

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? No

The experience included: Boundary

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes This tunnel was a boundary. I imagine if I would have gone ahead I would have met the person at the end.

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:


What is your religion now? Moderate

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I believe we go 'somewhere' after death.

The experience included: Presence of unearthly beings

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? The experience. Knowing that there could definitely be a place we go after death of our bodies.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes But limited. I feel people think that I am elaborating or not telling the truth. I don't tell many people unless they have had a similar experience.

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