Experience Description :

I did not leave my body. I told my wife as soon as we were alone after I awoke. I did not find out what had happened during surgery until two months later.

My experience went like this. I was in complete darkness but I could see what was happening. I was on the operating table. Several beings were coming after me. They were short and upright as a human would be. They were dressed in black hooded robes. They shuffle walked. They were black with round faces. They had pointed teeth and claws on their fingers. They were fighting and snarling at each other. They were fighting over who got me. Each one carried a large butcher's knife. They decided to dismember me so each could have a piece. I was trying to fight them off. All of a sudden, they stopped, turned around and walked away. They shuffled off snarling at each other. They entered what appeared to be a dark cave entrance. I heard no one command them to stop. They just stopped and left. The next thing I knew a nurse was telling me it was time to wake up.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 1983

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) Operating room complications.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Frightening

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 Much more vivid and real.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? It was extremely vivid at all times.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

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

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more so

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. There was no light. Everything was black and yet I could see clearly.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes Demons.

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? Neither

Did you see an unearthly light? No

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Extreme fear.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Neither

Did you have a feeling of joy? Neither

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? Neither

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

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? Neither

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Conservative/fundamentalist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I claimed I was a Christian before. I am now.

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I claimed I was a Christian before. I am now.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Definite being, or voice clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

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? Yes I am a more emotional person than before. I tend to have much more empathy and understanding about what others are going through.

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 my wife as soon as we were alone after the surgery. It was about twenty years before I shared with anyone else.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I had read news articles but nothing like what happened to me.

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