Experience Description :

I was in my climbing class, and we had to climb in order to train for the final test, seven days later. I wanted to climb on a wall I had never tried before; I got courageous and said to myself 'Let's do it'!

So I started, and then I had to cling my rope to the first hook on the wall; I was not really at my ease and I tried many times before succeeding. As I stayed nearly two minutes on the same stones, when I decided to go on climbing, my fingers were all weird and it was horribly difficult to grab a stone on the wall. And being like that three meters far from the floor is not really reassuring.

So I continued climbing, struggling against my paralyzed body and my growing fear. I clung my second hook on the wall, then the third. At that time, I became really exhausted and I was wondering if I could even finish climbing that frightening wall.

Then I was haunted by fear and I felt that my body was at the end of its capacities. I climbed a bit more, and at this moment, it became too difficult. I straightened my leg and realized I could not grab anything else. My hand wanted to grip a stone, but it could not. It was the end. Time was passing slowly, while I was falling, or rather my body was. My soul was leaving, fleeing my body. The white color on my face now got into my eyes. I became at the same time completely terrified and petrified with fear, but also happy, calm, and enjoying the coming death that was taking my spirit out of me.

This was the supreme state of this experience, perfect happiness and complete silence all around me.

But that lasted almost one second, no more. The attached hooks made me come back to reality by reminding me I was clung. It woke me up, all of sudden. Time was now passing at a normal speed, and I was confused with what had happened just a second before.

I got off the wall and preferred letting go for this time. Sometimes now I think I may have liked that the rope was not clung, so that I could go further into this extreme state of mind, this intense happiness.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: February 2005

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No. Rather small accident... nothing dangerous actually, but frightening. Other Climbing

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I lost awareness of my body

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Just before I fell off.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither Time was very slow.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More so than usual

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. All was light, there was no dark.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I did not hear any noise, but I'm sure there was some.

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? 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? Yes

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Neither I was able to feel the Other World, the world of souls and spirits.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Neither

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? United, one with the world

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? A barrier I was not permitted to cross; or 'sent back' to life involuntarily

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Moderate

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? Neither

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? Uncertain Just on the rest of the day, I was completely happy and joyful with people, but I could not explain why.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain Time passed slowly. My soul was leaving my body; I was really fine to feel my body falling, but at the same time, fear made me come to it.

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 shared it, but I was alone to feel such weird things about death.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Uncertain When I was ten, I was stood on the floor, I could not move an inch, and my tension decreased very quickly. I saw all turning around me and I fell unconscious. I felt the same state of mind, happy and calm, satisfied by what was happening.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was probably real

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real Such a state of mind meant something, it was there for something, and I'm sure it was real.

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