Ron C NDE

Experience Description:

It was summer in Long Island, New York at Stone Brook beach. My older brother challenged me to swim over to an island maybe thirty feet away. I made it across and was so tired. My brother told me the water was rising and I panicked. I started to swim back and about half way could not swim any more. I went down three times, last thing I saw was the life guard on shore. Next thing I knew it was pitch black, no feeling of the body, floating and great, joy can't explain the joy. I looked up and saw a white light far away but I was moving towards, then it turned slowly pitch black all around me. I finally woke up on the beach with the paramedics. I got up and ran all the way home.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 1968

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain Drowned swimming Other Drowned swimming. Drowning.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? No 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 I can't explain.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Moving towards the light.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither

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. It seemed like I could see all around me.

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

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain

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 It seemed bright but soft and I kept moving to it.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Joy, love and peace.

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? 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? 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? Conservative/fundamentalist catholic not practicing.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes More religious.

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist Christian

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes More religious.

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

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 feeling, can't explain, best feeling in my life ever.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes

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 Great.

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

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? No.