Experience Description

After a night of celebrating while watching the Montréal Olympic games, my friend and I left to go home. He lost control of his white Triumph TR-6 and hit a tree on Lee Boulevard in Baton Rouge. I was unconscious and transported to the emergency room with a concussion, broken nose and broken front teeth. I did not regain consciousness for approximately half an hour. I woke up on emergency room bed, while doctor was stitching lacerations on my nose.

However, while I was unconscious at the accident scene, I was in fact hovering above the entire scene below and looking down. I saw the car against the tree, and the ambulance as well as onlookers from the neighborhood and stopped cars. I was in no danger and no pain. I was perfectly aware of what was going on below me, yet in a state of complete tranquility. There was no discomfort, no judgment, and no concerns. My soul left my body and was in a heightened state of consciousness. Ironically, even though I was 'unconscious', my soul was more alert and aware than it could have been merged with my body and mind.

Nearly thirty-five years later and I remember it like it was yesterday.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: August 1976

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident. Direct head injury 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' Auto accident, no seat belt, head hit passenger side dashboard.

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? During the five to ten minutes that I was looking down at the accident scene from above.

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 Altered space, yes, not in body.

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. Just not sure if I had more clarity. Field of vision may have been greater, but since I was 'above' that may have explained it.

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? No

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I was not sad at all, considering what had happened. I was at peace and alive.

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

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

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I was able to be spiritual without organized religion. Works for me.

What is your religion now? Moderate

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I was able to be spiritual without organized religion. Works for me.

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 Validation of spiritual component to life.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain Hard to say.

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 event was significant on many levels. In short it validated life after death to me.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Kept it to myself for years. Told it to five people, three believed it, two doubted it.

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 Never doubted reality of this.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real The older I get the more it means to me.

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