My Uncle Carl (who had
just returned from the Korean War) was living with us and offered to take us
children swimming at Percy Quinn State Park, Pike County, MS. I was just
learning to swim and we were at a beach on the West side of the lake. My
brother Mike (two years younger than me) could not swim and he stepped in a hole
under the water - he started yelling for help and I was close by and did not
realize there was a hole. I went to him and as I approached, also stepped in
the hole. Mike had panicked and as I went down he climbed on top of me. I
tried to fight him off but the was pushing me down and I could get free. At
first I saw the bubbles float before my eyes that must have been wide open.
Shortly, I realized that I was going to die. With that thought and acceptance,
everything changed: all the pain of coughing water went away, and I was floating
up to a light that seemed to be pulling me; the I seemed to turn and I could see
the beach where we had been swimming - there were people there and one was
sitting down and I realized it was me; I was pulled back toward my body but it
was like I was but a wisp of smoke drawn to my physical body; as I approached my
body, I turned to slide into the body and the pain came back.
Uncle Carl had pulled
us both from the water and I don't think he did anything to revive us other than
a slap on the back to expel water. He told us to not tell our parents for fear
that they would be angry at him. I never talked about the experience with
brother Mike and we tried to forget the incident.
I did not think of or
talk about the experience and did not know of anything like near death
experience till there was a book published on the subject.
And I did not experience a tunnel or other people (deceased) so wasn't sure if I
had an true NDE.
Was
the kind of experience difficult to express in words?
No But I did not talk to anyone about it at the time
At
the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?
Yes Drowning
At
what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness
and alertness?
My mind seemed to be racing to the point that I knew I was going to die.
How
did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience
compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?
More consciousness and alertness than normal
If
your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was
different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please
explain:
My mind seemed to be racing to the point that I knew I was going to die.
Did
your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect,
such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of
solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?
No
Did
your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any
aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness,
etc.)?
No
Did
you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?
Yes
What emotions did you feel during the experience?
Peace and no pain
Did
you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?
Uncertain I did not feel confined to a tunnel but was being drawn to a
light
Did
you see a light?
Yes
Did
you meet or see any other beings?
No At his point in my live, I had not had any close person deceased.
Did
you experience a review of past events in your life?
No
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?
Yes Time seem to stand still and I was watching
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
Did
you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience
you did not have prior to the experience?
No
Have you shared this experience with others?
Yes My brother and I never talked about what happened. Years later
(1980's), My wife was reading a book on NDE and related part of a story to me -
I said that is familiar to what happened to me as a child and I related the
story to her. My story was a bit different in that there was no tunnel and no
people.
Did
you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?
No
How
did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it
happened:
Experience was probably not real My Uncle tould us to not tell our
parents what had happened and we didn't and never talked about it.
Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or
significant to you?
I do
not have a fear of death
How
do you currently view the reality of your experience:
Experience was definitely real I look back with he eyes of an adult and not
an 11 year old child.
Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your
experience?
Uncertain
Have your religious beliefs/practices 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 so far accurately and
comprehensively describe your experience?
Yes
