Individual NDEs

William W NDE 6292

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

In the summer of 1985 I was at a beach in Santa Cruz California with my family. There was a picnic area away from sight of the Ocean and my family was all up there eating. I walked down to the beach by myself. I walked into the water up to my knees. The water was cold and very murky with kelp floating all around me. After my legs got use to the cold I walked out a little further up to my waist. My mother didn't want me going out that far so I turned around to see if she was watching.

While facing the shore a large wave hit me and slammed my face into the sandy bottom. The wind was knock out of me. I stood up to take a breath of air and another large wave hit me slamming my face into the sandy bottom. I started to panic because I had no air and I was taking in water through my mouth and nose. I stoop up again to get some air and was struck again by a large wave. At this point I was in full panic and thoughts of death came to mind.

Then all of a sudden I felt very peaceful and calm, I heard a male inner voice say "relax and let go." So I did. I stopped fighting and just accepted what was going on. It didn't matter to me any more if I lived or died because I got the sense that I could never die because I have always existed and I always will. It was quiet and still. I felt like I was in a womb filled with amniotic fluid and pure love. There was no time it just didn't exist and it didn't matter.

Suddenly I popped up about 30 yards to the north of where I first stepped into the ocean. I was coughing and I may have vomited I'm not sure. My face hurt but I felt good. I went back up to the picnic area where my family was and they asked me what happened to your face? I looked into the car mirror and saw that my face was scratched and swollen from the sandy bottom when the wave slammed me into it. I didn't tell anyone until I was an adult because I didn't think anyone would believe me and I did want to get into trouble with my mother for going to far out into the ocean. My NDE has changed the way I perceive the universe for ever.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes At the time of my NDE I was too young to put the words together to describe what happened to me. I was afraid to tell others because I thought they would not believe me. My mother is very religious and I was afraid if I told here that her church has it all wrong she would punish me. So I kept my NDE story to myself until I was an adult. I only told a handful of people of my experience.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event? Yes Near Drowning.

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

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 I understood everything in the universe at that point. I had no questions during the experience it was like I already knew the answers through my feelings.

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.)? Everything got brighter. The sun light coming though the murky water and the kelp seen to be alive with bubbles coming out of it.

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.)? My hearing went away. I felt like I was in a sound proof room.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Fear, panic, calm, at peace and acceptance.

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? I heard a voice I could not identify I heard a calm male inner voice say "relax and let go."

Did you experience a review of past events in your life? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm I felt like I was in a womb surrounded by warm amniotic fluid and pure love. I felt safe like nothing could harm me.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning There was no time. That's the best way I can describe it. I have no idea how long I was under water and that time doesn't matter.

Did you seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe It's hard to put into words. I understand and I know is what keeps coming to my mind.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No

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

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information/awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose? No

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information/awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships? Yes Do not fear death or anything. It's all meant to be. That was the message I got from my NDE. Yes. Everything is love.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information/awareness regarding love? Yes Everything is love.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge or purpose? Yes I felt I knew why I was put on this earth but I didn't figure it out until I was about 20 years old.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in our life after your experience: After my NDE I began to be obsessed with spiritual and paranormal beliefs.

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience? I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience This incident changed my way of thinking and the way I see the universe for the better.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience? After my NDE I began to be obsessed with spiritual and paranormal beliefs.

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience? Yes I became very compassionate towards others.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience? Yes Working on a 911 ambulance I can locate victims when lost in areas that are difficult to search. When we are out looking for a body the group will go in one direction and I'll get pulled into another. I always find the body if there really is one to find.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The experience I had helps keep me calm in everyday events. I remember that inner voice saying to me to relax and let go.

Have you shared this experience with others? Yes I didn't share this incident with others until my 20's. They reacted with belief but they just couldn't fully understand. its almost not worth mentioning because its so hard to explain in words. It was all emotion and feelings. I'm not sure if they were influenced. I usually tell the story at work when I am on a drowning emergency call.

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 I knew it was real because it changed my way of thinking forever. It was like I was woken up from a deep sleep and given all the knowledge in the universe. its more like wisdom than knowledge.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time?Experience was definitely real It was meant to happen to me. It made me the man I am today.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience? No Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your Experience? Yes I believe that the spiritual aspect of my life has changed drastically over the past 3 years. I had several events in my life that I was able to overcome because of my new outlook on life. My brother a Firefighter Paramedic committed suicide in July 2010 and found his body. If it wasn't for my new way of thinking I don't think I would've been able to handle it. I feel like I understand death and that its just part of life. Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience? I started meditating in 2009 because I broke my right collar bone in a motorcycle accident. I refused to take pain medication so I learned to meditate for pain control. Sometimes in a deep meditation I get a glimpse of my NDE. The emotions and feelings of pure love and inner peace come back to me. no.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience? no.

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes The questions were perfect but my answers were short because its hard to put into words what I felt. I am at peace and have found happiness.