West S Probable NDE

Experience Description

My mother died on April 28, 2012, at the age of 68. She had suffered from Alzheimer's dementia for the decade prior. I decided to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society charity in recognition of this. To do so, I entered my first ever half marathon race, coincidentally held on the anniversary of her death: April 28, 2013.

I prepared for more than 12 months, running regularly and increasing the distance covered.

On the day of the race, I felt prepared. I ran the race and found that I was running faster than ever before, likely because it was a race and I was being carried along by faster, fitter runners.

At the end of the race, as I approached the finish line, I collapsed after suffering an acute hypotensive episode. I do not recall what happened, but my family told me that I was unconscious and was carried to the finish line where attempts were made to revive me: a bottle of water was poured over my head to no avail. I have seen pictures taken of me at this point, and I looked gray and lifeless. I was carried to the medical tent where a general practitioner and a paramedic treated me. I was told that my blood pressure had dropped into "double digits." I was administered a saline drip and monitored for the next hour or so, gradually reviving. The doctor told me afterward that she had been covering this race for many years and, having seen many collapses, I was the first to require a drip. I was also told that they initially considered having me airlifted to the hospital but later deemed it unnecessary.

After regaining consciousness, I felt a profound sense of love. I felt unconditional love for all around me and also felt I was the recipient of that same non-judgmental love. I have no memories of seeing anything while unconscious, but I had a very strong feeling that I had been in the company of deceased loved ones. I felt equally strongly that I was meant to understand there is nothing to fear about death. This message seemed to come from my deceased loved ones, though I don't recall "hearing" it; it was just a very powerful feeling.

When I came to, I also found that for the next 30 to 60 minutes my vision was extremely vivid. Colors were very striking and intense. My dad’s dirty car, which I rode home in, looked brand new, as if it had just left the showroom. The trees were the most vibrant green I have ever seen.

The event was transformative for me, as I made profound changes to my life in the months that followed. I gave up drinking alcohol and have not felt the urge since. I also try hard to live meaningfully, making positive changes and offering help to others whenever possible. This is challenging, as life’s difficulties make such an outlook hard to maintain, but I have tried very hard to make concerted efforts to help people wherever I can.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date of NDE: 28/4/2013

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No

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

Did you feel separated from your body? No

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Just prior to collapsing and then after being revived.
I was unconscious and cannot recall any awareness as a result.

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? No

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience See above - all colours were more vibrant and vivid for a short period after I regained consciousness.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience I do not recall hearing anything during the experience.

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? I sensed their presence

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased beings? Yes
I can't be sure, but I would say probably my mother who died the year before.

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? Love, love and more love.

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? No

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? Christian- Protestant
Non practicing

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I no longer feel like a typical 'Christian'. I feel very strongly that there is 'something' out there (whether that be 'God' or another human applied label) as the creator of the universe and that the spirits/souls of people return to another place (from whence they came) and that this mortal existence is a 'trial' or course we have to undergo to learn something important, (probably the value of love).

What is your religion now? Christian- Protestant
Non practicing

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

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
No longer fear death. I know that my deceased loved ones still exist in some spiritual form and continue to take an interest in me.

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? Yes
I had a very strong feeling that there is nothing to fear of death and that existence continues after physical death.

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
This was the overarching sense I had of the experience. The importance of love which far exceeds what we understand this to mean on Earth.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Large changes in my life
Abstaining from alcohol. Trying to ensure that I don't harm other living things and that I improve things for others wherever possible.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes
I try to be more genuine and loving. I tell my children about what I experienced and have used what I learnt during a recent bereavement to help them through the loss of their grandad.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
I could explain it, (as I have tried to do here) but words fail to describe the impact and power of the experience I had.

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

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes
I have noticed that I occasionally have foresight. Usually someone I know (whether family friend or celebrity) will enter my mind and a short time later (sometimes a few minutes, sometimes a day or two) I will either seem them or find out that my thought proved correct (i.e. that they had died).

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? I would say the experience of love as well as the 'gift' of knowing that existence does not end at physical death.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I told my wife the same day. She believed my account and shared my interpretation. I've told select others (family and colleagues) but am cautious about who I tell as I don't want to appear 'crazy'. Although, truth be told, I feel blessed to have had the experience and truly believe it added value and meaning to my life.

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
In some ways, I wish I had had more experiences like this as it was so positively transformational for me.

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