EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:    As a preamble to this story I want you to know that up until that moment (1981), I was used to swim in swimming pools and quiet waters; never in the beach where the waves may drag you out into the sea.  It was the summer of 1981 when along with my brothers and cousins went to the “Agua Dulce” beach.  When I saw the vastness of the sea, I did not want to enter the water so I stayed on the beach taking care of the clothes the others left behind. However, the heat and curiosity attracted me so I put on a short and went into the water. I only stepped into the shore’s shallow waters but curiosity, again, made me go further, so I went further in and came back to the shore. When I took confidence after the second time I went back and turned to find myself in front of a wave which dragged and sank me in.  When I reacted I let myself fall to touch the ground and taking impulse I went up to the surface; I found that the wave dragged me to approximately 100 meters from the shore. I became nervous and desperate which made me sank again. Once more I pushed myself from the ground to go up to the surface and started to cry for help. Fortunately I was spotted. 

However, I couldn’t  stay above the surface  and sank and felt that water was coming into my body through my eyes, my ears; little by little I started to loose oxygen until I reached a mental state where I refused to drown and die. Rapidly, I started to think “What have I done” “why me” “I have not lived life yet” “I have not sinned” “it is not fair”. I clung to life but lost consciousness. I do not remember anything.  My relatives who were there told me that the lifeguards were giving me mouth-to-mouth breathing but since I did not react they used a resuscitator (Translator: don’t know the English term for “inflador resucitador”: it sounds like resuscitator by blowing air). Fifteen minutes went by and I did not react so they ordered my transportation to the morgue.

This is what is extraordinary:  when the lifeguards were saying that I should be taken to the morgue I could hear them but could not tell them I was alive. I couldn’t move or make a signal. I suddenly saw a beautiful, bright light which enlightened the place where I was. I looked like a boy eight or nine years old, I was standing in a white robe. Then, two groups of persons appeared dressed as roman wrestlers; one group was red and the other was blue. They were fighting over me. Both groups wanted to take me and said to each other “he belongs to us” “no, he belongs here”. It looked like they were going to fight with their swords and during that moment of discussion I take the opportunity to run and escape and this is where I get back my consciousness and started coughing.  I immediately got medical attention and am alive to tell you about my Near Death Experience.  Lifeguards said it was a miracle “We thought you were dead and we were taking you to the morgue”.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words?          No     

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

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?  When the two roman groups were fighting over me.

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:        I decided to run and escape due to the fear to be taken to an unknown destiny.

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?          Desperation and sorrow to be dying so young

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?   Yes. It looked like mine cave; it even had two exits, I took the one to the left to escape.

Did you see a light?  Yes. I saw a Light before the two roman soldier groups appeared.

Did you meet or see any other beings?         Yes. I saw the two groups of roman soldiers wearing –one of them- red uniforms and blue the other.

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?         Uncertain    

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. I appeared like an eight or nine year old boy.

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?       Yes. Long hours of thinking and concentration ; I lost my fear to die and from that moment on, I have become stronger in dangerous or stress moments ; I perform better, I do not get desperate.

Have you shared this experience with others?        Yes, with my family ; they said that I was so lucky, others said it was a miracle  because no one could live fifteen minutes without oxygen.

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 understood that when a person clings to something he gets it and that is real. I clung to life and that is why I am alive; I fighted for living and did not accept death and told myself: this is a second opportunity to live. I value life.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?  I resisted death at all times, I clung to life and it was vital to escape while the roman soldiers groups were discussing.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:     Experience was definitely real and it helped me to give meaning to my life.

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. They have not changed.

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?Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience? Life and death are within us. He who wants to live must cling to it.

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes. All the information supplied is true.

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire:Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.  Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience? I think they are well stated. I do not think there’s anything to add.