Experience description: 

It was in July 1987. I was 15 years old and my parents had sent me in a summer camp (summer camp) in North Carolina (USA).

I have a physical problem that when I pass a lying or seated position to the standing position, the blood ebbs from my head downwards to the body.  This phenomenon is accentuated by the heat, fatigue and the speed of the position change. It results in a blurred vision or makes me off balance.  Sometimes, I can even go until the loss of consciousness, even though it only lasts some seconds.

Right after the lunch, I was on my bed reading when one of my friends asked me to lend him a pen. I immediately rose to get one off the top of my shelf.  At the time of seizing the pen, I had a strong hypotension and lost consciousness.  I fell unconscious before touching the ground. I have the memory of the plunk that my head made when it entered in contact with the ground, but without physical sensation or pain.

The fall in itself was not problematic. What was more, it is that the shock of my head against the ground caused me to choke on my tongue and go into convulsions.  During that time, having no consciousness, that it happened.  I had an impression of so much peace and tranquility.

First of all, I had a flashback of all my past life. One would have said slides bombarded at full speed without interruption. To my big astonishment, I reviewed episodes of my life that I had forgotten completely. I had the impression that it lasted between 40 minutes and one hour. Then, I had an impression of big serenity, of big tranquility. A few as if I was disconnected of my five senses, without any perception of the outside world. I didn't see anything, didn't hear anything, didn't feel anything, didn't touch anything. In summary, a big interior peace, with the impression to melt progressively into nothing, nearly of more to exist.

Then, I reopened the eyes to discover about ten people that looked at me without I my knowing why. One explained to me about the fall, the swallowed tongue, the convulsions, the fact that one of my comrades succeeded quickly in clearing my air way.  When I asked how long my unawareness had lasted, one answered me at most about ten seconds, to my big astonishment. I had the impression the experience lasted at least one hour.

Thereafter, I have regret not to have noted the flashes that had come back to me because the memory evaporated after a few days. I remember more of the experience, but not of the content of the flashes.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience:  No

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No

At the time of the experience, was there an associated life threatening event?  Yes

      Describe:  I had swallowed my tongue and I was taken of convulsions while being unconscious. If one had not withdrawn my tongue from my throat in the seconds that followed, I would have died.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?   I was unconscious.

Was the experience dream like in any way?  Not at all. There was no action or production. just a session of slides, then my being's progressive disappearance.

Did you experience a separation of consciousness from your body?  No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?  A big interior peace. Of serenity.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?  No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?  No

Did you see a light?  No

Did you meet or see any other beings?  No

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?  Yes

      Describe:  The events that I had forgotten myself completely reappeared under the shape of flashbacks. Unfortunately, their memory faded itself to disappear completely at the end of some days.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?  No

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?  No

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  No

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?  No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?  No

Did you become aware of future events?  No

Were you involved in or aware of a decision to return to the body?  No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?  No

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?  Uncertain

      Describe:  It didn't affect my religious belief. I don't always have the faith.  On the other hand, it has left me without fear of death.  I am more aware of my own mortality. It gave me the impression that the death was a sort of nothing. Something similar to the state preceding our birth. There was not anything before;  there won't be anything after. Nothing dramatic to it for as much:  before existing, I didn't feel anything (and for reason!); and long after my death, one will come back to this state.

Since, I really appreciate being alive, I savor every second that passes. Otherwise, I had the feeling I was given a second chance. I promised myself not to waste it and to try to be as good as possible with my neighbor. In a certain manner, I had the impression to have known the death before to be allowed to pursue my life. It permits to see the things of manner a lot more detached and to relativize a lot.

Has the experience affected your relationships?  Daily life?  Religious practices etc.?  Career choices?  Not truly of influence from that point of view.

Have you shared this experience with others?  Uncertain

      Describe:  I didn't speak of this experience to my parents until years later.  No real reaction of their part.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  A certain wonder to have reviewed the forgotten memories.  A relief to have survived death and to be again in life.  I was not afraid of the death anymore.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?  The best:  a feeling of liberation opposite the death, or even a feeling of invulnerability. At the time, one has the impression a little intoxicating to have won a fight against the grim reaper.  Nothing else on earth can get to you.  A feeling like a light euphoria.

The worse:  the conscience of my own mortality. Even though I had the impression to have deceived the Death temporarily, I acquired the certainty knowledge how, sooner or later, all it is going to end. No paradise, of hell or resurrection;  just nothing. I am a little irritated when I think about everything that I am going to miss of the future of the humanity. But good, it is already well to be here again.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?  No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?  No

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?  Yes