Experience Description

I was running to school and ran between two parked vehicles, about one block from my home, and ran into the side of a moving vehicle. I was knocked back and immediately lost my breath and immediately had my short life flash before me. I do not have all that great a memory of events when I was a young child, but to this date, I vividly remember this event.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 1948

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death' Ran into the side of a moving vehicle and had my breath completely taken away.

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 As above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? It was immediate and lasted only a second or two. It has always amazed me how much of my life flashed in that short time frame.

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 The flashing by of my life was extremely fast - like lightening.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

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? Yes My family and some persons important in my life at the time - aunt and godmother. Nothing was communicated.

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 amazed at what happened to me - a little scared also, but not as scared as the person who was driving the car I ran into. He asked me if I was okay, and I said 'yes', and then I continued to run off to school.

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

The experience included: Life review

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control See above - saw family members - admittedly, my life experience at ten years of age was limited.

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

What is your religion now? Moderate

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

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? Uncertain I am very religious today. I go to Mass every day that I can, constantly pray and say the Rosary very frequently.

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? Uncertain I have received numerous compliments throughout my professional life of having a very keen intuition about events - don't know if this is connected or not.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Only the fact that it remains one of the only very strong memories from childhood, of which I generally do not have strong memories.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Did not share this with anyone until I was married to my first wife - now deceased (approximately five years) and with my older children, in passing, and with my current wife (married three years). It still remains very clear in my mind the recollection of the event, which has always amazed me.

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 I know it happened - can see it clearly to this date.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I still remember it as if it occurred yesterday.

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