Lance H Probable NDE

Experience Description

I was four years old and we were at a family reunion at my aunt's house by the lake. I remember being on shore by the dock and looking back in the yard as my family was having a barbeque. I walked to the end of the dock and stood at the edge looking down into the water, next thing I know I'm submerged in the lake sinking to the bottom. I faintly remember starting to panic, but then the area began to get really bright almost animated in a sense. I remember staring at some seaweed that was swaying in front of me and being at ease with my surroundings. The scared feeling went away when I felt like I was no longer alone down there - it was surreal I guess. I didn't exactly SEE a presence, but I DEFINITELY FELT IT. It also felt like time slowed and I was in my own kind of heaven. Next thing I know I'm on my dad's shoulder and he's hitting my back and I'm spitting out water from my lungs. What it taught me was that death isn't painful or something we should fear - I actually respect it now and welcome it - don't get the wrong idea I'm not suicidal by any means.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 1980

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain drowning. 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death' It felt like I 'belonged' in the water.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? No No

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? When I was staring at the seaweed feeling the presence of something by me.

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 slowed down.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I'm not sure.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I was under water.

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? Uncertain Something was there.

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? Uncertain Not a light per se, but it lit up around me.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? All positive emotions.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

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

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? Conservative/fundamentalist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist

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

The experience included: Presence of unearthly beings

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 I told everybody.

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

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