Experience Description:

It all started Tuesday May 10th; I had persistent flu and badly-treated asthma. I went to the doctor because I contracted bronchitis and he prescribed a syrup, antibiotics, inhalator and a corticoid injection. On Wednesday 11th, I woke up as usual; I had my medicine and a lady came to give me the injection. After she left, five minutes went by and I started to have breathing problems - I called my mother as best I could - she was getting out of the shower and I told her I could not breathe.

I managed to dress and my best friend called me to have breakfast with her - she was near my house and I was to start work at 13:00. As I could not respond to her, my mother did and told her I need help. We went down in the elevator and the last thing I remember was the face of my friend. Upon leaving my house, I fainted due to lack of oxygen to my brain.

And here comes my experience, after my breathing stopped. The hospital nearest to my house is about a fifteen to twenty minute drive, so I arrived the Santa Maria Clinic with respiratory collapse and no pulse. I opened my eyes and saw myself in a tunnel of lights - diffuse and beautiful lights - I was in some kind of a train. I did not see myself but knew that I was riding leaning back in a train at high speed. I was very frightened of the speed, the lights passing by very fast by my side. I saw thousands of light spirals and thought, 'I am dying.' I felt my body glued to the seat and saw a very strong light with a golden frame at the end of the tunnel. I saw some Roman columns with the infinity symbol.

As I approached it, the light became stronger. I was frightened because I knew that if I passed through the entry-way I would not be coming back. Thousands of voices were talking to me at the same time and I repeated to myself, 'Not yet. I am dying. Not yet. Not Yet.' and I was anguished because I did not want to go to the light. In the meanwhile, I tried to hush the voices that talked and talked to me. I could not recognize any of them but they said let go, abandon yourself, I did not want to do it. When they gave me adrenaline and revived me with electroshock the train stopped and went backwards at the same speed until a voice told me (a voice coming from behind me), 'Not yet. It is not your moment yet.' The train started to slow down until it stopped completely. My whole body arched and fell back on the hospital bed. I opened my eyes and said to the nurse, 'I died.' She took my hand and said, 'Yes, but you are now here.'

Afterwards I learned that some 'carabineros' [Translator note: in Chile it is like the police] escorted me to the clinic. If I had arrived five minutes later, I would have passed through the portal - the light.

My mother did not see them as carabineros but as angels. In fact, everything happened in order for me to be here telling this experience.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 11 de mayo de 2005

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Illness Allergic reaction Ataque severo de asma con obstrucción bronquial y paro respiratorio Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) Severe asthma and bronchitis - stopped breathing.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Frightening

Did you feel separated from your body? No No

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? In every moment.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Time seemed to go faster than usual It could be a second, but the passing through the tunnel seemed to last forever.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More so than usual

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. The voices; sound were clearer than normal.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes I passed through a tunnel of light - of lights - like when a hallucinogenic drug is taken, a lot of diffuse, strong colors.

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes At the end of the tunnel - in an entry-way with Greek or Roman columns - they were enormous but I saw them coming near.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Neither

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Fear, anguish, sorrow.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Neither

Did you have a feeling of joy? Neither

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? Neither

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? A barrier I was not permitted to cross; or 'sent back' to life involuntarily

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I have read the Bible, want to go to confession, and get more involved with the church. I feel I still have something to experience or live.

What is your religion now? Moderate

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I have read the Bible, want to go to confession, and get more involved with the church. I feel I still have something to experience or live.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Definite being, or voice clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I am less afraid of death and more attached to the people who love me.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The passing through the tunnel, the speed feeling.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Once I woke up, I recalled it.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? You are aware that you are dying. You know, I had the sensation that I have gone through that tunnel before, that is why I knew what was after the entry-way if I went through the light. That is why I did not want to go but the train was taking me against my will - it was my will that prevented me from dying, my will to live and breathe.