Daniel J NDE

Experience Description

In 2004, I suffered a traumatic brain injury and have since made a full recovery. However, I did not experience anything like my earlier out-of-body experience during that incident.

The date of this accident is approximate. It happened on a beautiful, sunny day in late summer when I was helping out on a farm. I had been asked to drive an old dumper truck down to a field where the farmer and his son were harvesting, to let them know their tea was ready. The dumper was an old vehicle that was rarely used, and the steering, clutch, and other controls were very stiff. I remember feeling happy as I bounced along the field with the warm sun and wind on my face. When I returned to the farmyard, I decided to park the dumper where I had found it, near a small caravan and an old articulated trailer.

As I reversed toward the trailer, I remember thinking that I had better be careful or I could end up underneath it. At that very moment, my foot slipped off the clutch pedal, and the dumper suddenly lurched backward. Before I could react, the vehicle went underneath the trailer, crushing me against the steering wheel and the dumper's bucket. I was completely pinned, with my left wrist trapped over the steering wheel and the edge of the bucket pressing tightly against my chest. I remember the pressure slowly squeezing the air out of my lungs. I could not breathe or move, and I began slipping in and out of consciousness. Whenever I regained consciousness, I tried to shout for help, but I could not get enough air into my lungs to make a sound.

I cannot remember exactly when my out-of-body experience occurred during the accident. However, I clearly remember being high above the ground, floating horizontally. I do not recall looking down and seeing my physical body. There was a beautiful, warm, comforting light against my back that seemed to extend upward and surround everything behind me. It felt as though this light was a presence guiding me, helping me float and allowing me to see. The feeling was euphoric. I had no worries, concerns, or pain. I was simply happy, floating or flying effortlessly. Everything felt peaceful and comforting.

During this experience, I saw my family at our family public house. My grandparents were staying with us at the time, and I could see them along with my wider family. Everyone was happy, cheering, and celebrating together in the bar. It was a wonderful, joyful scene. Meanwhile, back at the farm, two men had arrived to purchase the caravan parked near the dumper. Fortunately, they discovered me trapped beneath the trailer and raised the alarm. Emergency services arrived, including an ambulance and the fire service. The farmer's son used a telescopic farm handler to lift the trailer so I could be pulled free.

I do not remember being rescued or taken to the ambulance by the paramedics. My next memory is of part of the journey to the hospital, with the ambulance lights flashing and the siren sounding. Despite how serious the accident could have been, I was extremely fortunate. My only broken bone was a small bone in my wrist. I have often reflected on that day and my out-of-body experience, particularly the wonderful feeling of floating and the warm, comforting light that seemed to guide me. I can still remember the happiness, peace, and complete absence of pain or fear.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date of NDE: 09/08/1994

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
Accident. I accidentally reversed an old dumper truck underneath a parked articulated trailer. I became trapped against the steering wheel and dumper bucket, which compressed my chest so severely that I could not breathe, move, or call for help. I repeatedly lost consciousness before being discovered and rescued by emergency services.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Both pleasant AND distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? I clearly left my body and existed outside it
It may well have been real, with my grandparents being in my parents' pub at the bar at the time.

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

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

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
Well, it just seemed to happen. I didn't really have any feeling of time.

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 There was just a lot of light. It was a long time ago now, so some of my memories have gone; however, I remember the vision being incredibly vivid and filled with light.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience I don't know if I had any hearing. I don't think hearing was required.

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? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes
As mentioned before, there was a sort of enveloping, comforting, caring light behind and above me.

Did you seem to enter another world? Some unfamiliar and strange place
Just as I have already mentioned, I was out of body, floating horizontally in the air high up. I was then taken to my vision. I didn't see my body or anything else below.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Happiness, comfort, euphoria

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Incredible joy

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world

Did you suddenly understand everything? Everything about the universe
Everything was at peace and everything was ok. There was no fear or anxiety. Just love, joy, happiness, and euphoria.

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? Unaffiliated - Atheist
Brought up in a Christian family. As a young child I sang in a choir at the school I attended and sang regularly in religious spaces, churches, and cathedrals. My maternal grandparents were very religious through Christianity and the Church of England.

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I just feel more spiritual. I believe in meditation and that some people are better at connecting than others.

What is your religion now? Unaffiliated - Atheist
I would still class myself as an atheist, but of course I am revisiting this discourse of the afterlife and the wider universal belief and knowledge base on near death experiences, etc.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience
Well, clearly there is some other realm. I think I may have touched it with the presence of the light, but I certainly wasn't meant to go anywhere else at that time.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I value life and people more.

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? Uncertain
It definitely felt like some other helping or guiding presence, like I was being guided to my vision.

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? Yes
That everything is ok. No need to fear anything.

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Uncertain
Only that death is not to be feared and that everything will be ok on death.

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Uncertain
Well, I clearly had an out of body experience, and it certainly felt like the light was a guiding presence.

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? Yes
An overwhelming feeling of love, with the universe.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? No changes in my life
I felt more that I had to care for and assist people who were struggling with life.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes
I am just very aware that everyone is on a journey and some are a little more enlightened than others. This, however, does not mean anything in terms of how kind or unkind they are; it's just a naivety that shouldn't be highlighted.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
Well, I have explained it; however, I don't quite think I can put into words what the light meant.

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
I certainly hold a vivid memory of the experience, which hasn't changed over time.

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? I think simply that the light was a presence, an all knowing and caring light. But I didn't get far enough into the light to understand anything more about it, though I didn't need to at the time.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I've shared it with a couple of friends and colleagues since. Only a few though, and I kept it light, just saying I didn't really know what it was about, just an interesting experience.

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
Well, it was real to me. Whether it was a hallucination or not, I don't know. All I do know is that it felt very real, comforting, and nothing to be concerned or worried about.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
I believe there is more than just what we know. I think as a species we are still developing and learning about this world and beyond. I think that the fact nobody can give me a true or known answer to the question of 'what does the universe sit within' means that God is no less likely to be true.

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

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes
I've explained as accurately as I can, but I suppose some things and experiences are sometimes difficult to put into words.

Anything else to add? None.