Chris V NDE

Experience Description

We were white water rafting on the American River called the South Fork after the spring thaw from the mountains. The river was raging.

We were not supposed to hit a certain section, but we did and our raft was flipped up and to the side. I was on point on the left of the raft and was thrown directly into the main rapid, which sucked me under. I came up frantically and was sucked back down. Then I was held down by some type of whirlpool. I struggled, which I should not have done. I panicked as I realized that I was drowning.

I had an out of body experience. I was looking at myself in clear, sapphire, bubbling water, very pleasant, and I said to myself let go, it's over. I was literally looking at myself and then I woke up on the beach approximately 18 minutes later when my husband was giving me life-saving CPR.

I was then flown by a helicopter off the remote riverbank and taken to Sutter Hospital in El Dorado county. I was transferred after stabilizing to Kaiser.

I have to admit that since that experience, I have a completely different view on life. Death does not scare me like it does so many. I seem to be free of that anxiety and I try to pass that on to people the best way I can or know how.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date of NDE: 00/00/2009

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
Yes, I was drowning and was held under by a whirlpool and was only released when I was dead and limp.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Entirely pleasant

Did you feel separated from your body? I clearly left my body and existed outside it

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Right when I died and I had the out-of-body experience. Everything went calm and peaceful.
I had a pretty hectic construction job. I was a glazier and it kept me pretty on edge all the time. After the experience, I seem to have a greater sense of calm.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness? More consciousness and alertness than normal

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

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

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience What I was seeing during the out-of-body experience was water in bubbles, shimmering, and clear sapphire water

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience I didn't hear anything because I was underwater. It was just understood without words.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

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

Did you see or feel surrounded by a brilliant light? No

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter another world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Calm, as if everything on my shoulders was lifted

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt no longer in conflict with nature

Did you suddenly understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back? No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No

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

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Other or several faiths
Pagan

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Other or several faiths
Still pagan

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience
I have had out-of-body experiences before. Some call them astral projection. It has always been a pleasant experience and I believe that's exactly what happened to me when I drowned. I was leaving permanently, but I was brought back by my husband who was a nurse and performed CPR.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)? No

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? No

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? No

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? No

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

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

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? No

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? No

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? No

During your experience, did you gain information about love? No

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? No changes in my life
Just do not fear death because I know there is more out there waiting for my energy.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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
It was a pretty intense situation and I remember it like it happened yesterday!

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? Yes. Seeing myself telling me to let go, that it's over.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
The next day in the hospital room. My husband was too freaked out to really listen, and we talked about it later. He wasn't too shocked because he kind of knows who I am, or I should say how my mind works. I have told others since then. I kind of have to know the room before I start telling it so I don't think I'm some kind of a whack job.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes
I read about it.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real
I knew what happened to me because something similar had occurred with my out-of-body experiences. It was very familiar and calm and comforting.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
Just as real as the day it happened. I died for 18 minutes and was brought back. During that time I saw myself or my spirit separated from my body talking to me in my head. But I saw myself face-to-face. Wild.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Yes
I'm still a very strong, well individual, but I am calmer when it really matters. More compassionate when it really matters.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes
Everything happened exactly the way I just explained it. I did not add that my husband is permanently upset about the whole experience of me dying and then coming back.

Anything else to add? Sounds like my experience is different from many that I have read. Mine does not contain glowing tunnels, angels, etc. I believe my energy was separating and getting ready to rejoin the universe, to be reabsorbed, so to speak.