Mari Luz CB NDE

I was playing a game of basketball at school, when the ball left the court. I ran towards it, picked it up and turned my head in order to throw the ball, which is when I struck my temple on an iron bar. This is where my experience began.

I was looking down on the whole schoolyard from above, as though floating in the air, and could see my fellow-players weeping and crying out. I was to their right, the teacher had his back to me, kneeling over a girl who was laid out on the ground. Approaching, I asked what was going on, but nobody answered me. The teacher was shaking her and slapping her with the palm of his hand on her face, and at this point I realised that the girl on the ground being slapped was me. I had my mouth open and my eyes were open too, but vacant.  The teacher (at the same time as he tried to revive me) was shouting, Oh my God, Oh my God, wake up... From my position (above and to the right of the whole scene) I could see everything that happened over the whole schoolyard with great clarity, the children and the people by the fence.  (I heard) their comments about what was happening, could see  children going in and out of the playground, cars passing by... when suddenly I found myself in darkness where something or someone was drawing me to them, and the closer I got the more comfortable I felt. My "pleasure" intensified to the highest degree the further I drew away from life, I realised, and so I wanted to come back.

I woke up and the first thing I asked was how were my mouth and my eyes.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes. Not so much the fact of expressing it as being understood, comprehended.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event? No

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Throughout, although I did not know what was happening (why no one spoke to me, why they were crying if I was OK...). Let's say that the moment of greatest consciousness or alertness could have been when I realized that if I allowed myself to be carried along by that pleasurable feeling, life would be ebbing away.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness throughout, although I did not know what was happening (why no one spoke to me, why they were crying if I was OK...). Let's say that the moment of greatest consciousness or alertness could have been when I realized that if I allowed myself to be carried along by that pleasurable feeling, life would be ebbing away.

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? I was happy

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure? Yes, everything was dark, rather confined but very comfortable.

Did you see a light? Uncertain. From darkness things were becoming lighter.

Did you meet or see any other beings? Uncertain. I felt rather than saw a beloved being who was guiding me towards "wellbeing".

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? Yes. What they were saying and doing.

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, it was a strange feeling, more to do with space.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose? Yes. Death.

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. The experience happened at 12 years old, but until I was 20 I did not tell anyone. Watching a TV program where a woman was telling about a very similar experience to mine, I realized that I was not a "rare beast" and I told my husband about it. He reacted very well, and understood me. Others reacted differently, made jokes and laughed.

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 definitely real . Right from the start I saw that this was a real experience, and I compared what I saw with what I was told, once I woke up.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?  Experience was definitely real. Although much time has passed, I still think that it was real.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience? No

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

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience? After the experience, or life moment, I was very disoriented, alone, facing the quite extraordinary fact which had happened to me. I asked myself many questions which had no answers. But what definitely remained clear to me, and in a kind of way comforted me, was the feeling that death is not something to be feared.

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes. I believe I have been precise in telling it the way it happened, although it is a very long time ago and some things might have slipped my mind.

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience? Actually I've read very little on this subject and this is the first time I've filled out a questionnaire on the experience, but it seemed very clear and concise, with nothing missed out.