Experience Description

I was in a bed flying over the city of Chattanooga looking down at the ground and the terrain. I could see myself in the bed as if I was out of my body and watching. Did not encounter any person or persons. Did not see anything I had not seen before other than flying in the bed. At the time of this experience, I was unconscious and my physician was not sure whether I was brain dead or not. Didn't have EEG's (electroencephalography) in 1952

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: July 1952

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Illness Clinical death poliomylitis (cerebral) in iron lung for two months Poliomyelitis with paralysis of respiration and unconsciousness. In iron lung for two months. Unconscious for two weeks.

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I had an outside view of myself in the bed flying over the city.

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

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning Flying.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Don't recall any sound.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

Did you see an unearthly light? Uncertain Daylight only.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm Chattanooga.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? It was fun (enjoyable) and a good experience.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

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? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:


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

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No

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? There was nothing bad about the experience. It was fun flying over the country side.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes

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