Andrea K Probable NDE

Experience Description

For my Bachelor’s project, I’ve been deeply fascinated by Near-Death Experience (NDE) accounts, particularly the ones documented in this database. Since I plan to gather specific data from it, I feel it’s only fair to share my own story, just to give something back to the community. While I’m not entirely certain I was truly 'dead,' I know I experienced something profound- something spiritual that revealed its purpose to me only years later when I was ready to understand.

Here’s what happened: I was 8 years old, on a family vacation in Turkey with my mom and two siblings. We’d traveled all night from Germany, and by the time we arrived, we were all utterly exhausted. Our accommodations weren’t ready, so my mother suggested we head to the beach to pass the time. Feeling tired and frustrated, I wandered off while she wasn’t looking.

As I strolled through the resort, weaving between the buildings, I noticed it was becoming increasingly hard to breathe. It was a strange sensation -hot and cold at the same time - where no matter how hard I gasped for air, my body seemed unable to use the oxygen. Panic set in. My thoughts raced from 'I should go back to mom…' to 'I need shade, water- anything! Now!' to 'There’s a fountain in the lobby; people will be there! I’m going to die!' But I wasn’t anywhere near the lobby anymore. I was alone and knew that if I collapsed here in the heat, the consequence would be... death.

Then, something extraordinary happened— something, I can only describe as a miracle. Just as I was on the verge of collapsing, I heard my mom calling behind me. I turned around, and through my tunnel vision, I saw first her angry face, followed by my siblings. And then, somehow, I was no longer where I had been moments earlier. I was standing in the resort lobby, surrounded by people, with the fountain behind me and shade all around. I was so confused. It felt as though, while turning, I had been teleported.

I don’t remember much immediately after that. We didn’t go to the beach, obviously, and my mom somehow got us checked into our vacation home, likely after giving the receptionist a piece of her mind. Right after, we went straight to bed. I still have pictures from that day- we looked tired, sunburned, and absolutely drained beyond what our small bodies could handle.

Now to the actual experience. When I woke up, I wasn’t in the hotel room anymore- or at least, that’s how it felt. I was floating on a vast ocean on a red air mattress. The experience was so vivid, that it didn’t feel like a dream or hallucination. The similar panic crept in again: 'I will drown!' The mattress was barely afloat as I struggled. In the real world, my mother saw this as a kind of seizure and rushed to get me off the bed, into the bathroom. To me, it felt like I was actively being pulled into the water by someone I couldn´t see- that did not help! And it felt weird, like existing in the physical and spiritual realm at the same time, whilst not being able to perceive either one of them in its entirety.

And then, I saw him. Well, again, it is more complicated than the senses we know here. I was in survival mode, and all I truly saw was the water, ready to swallow me. Yet, his presence alone was so intense, loving, and profound that it instantly calmed me to my core. The being had the shape of a man, a face made of light, wearing a white robe, and stood at the foot of the mattress. I knew he was there without actually seeing him. The 'contact' his feet made with the water shot into the front of my mind, and in that moment, I stopped struggling. Somehow, I knew he knew me better than anyone ever could, and that this experience was just a small part of a much longer journey— a long life I was meant to live before we would meet again. This understanding wasn’t spoken but felt, communicated through a deep, spiritual connection in an instant.

Because of that, I stopped fighting off my mother, I tried to put my own foot onto the waves- it was indeed a cold, wooden floor. So we both rushed by the figure and next thing I knew my mom put cold water onto my head. The realm faded, and I´d like to believe I was baptised at that moment. Anyway, I was back. The rest of the vacation went on without incident, and remarkably, I suffered no lasting effects from what had happened- not even from the heat stroke. Years passed, and I almost forgot about this whole experience. As a teenager, I faced many struggles: bullying, poor mental health, and self-destructive as well as suicidal tendencies. Yet, through it all, there was always a sense of something greater, within but much bigger than myself. A burning love, the essence of life itself- I couldn´t explain it. It didn’t feel like my own at all, it wasn´t, so for the longest time I dismissed it as a vague passion for art and sought answers in science, philosophy, and history, but nothing truly resonated with what it actually was, the Holy Spirit.

One day, I came across this passage in C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series that changed everything:

'The face seemed to be a sea of toss and gold, in which they were floating, and such a sweetness and power roared about them and over them and into them, that they felt that they’d never really been happy, or wise, or good, or even alive or awake before. And a memory of that moment stayed with them always, so that as long as they both lived, if ever they were sad, or afraid, or angry, the thought of all that golden goodness and the feeling that it was still there, quite close, just 'round some corner, just behind some door, would come back, and make them sure, deep down inside, that all was well.' That passage perfectly described how I had carried the memory of my encounter with Christ. It had stayed with me, even through the darkest times. When I finally explored Christianity and read the story of Peter walking on water, I felt an overwhelming sense of understanding, naturally. I realized how much my experience mirrored Peter’s moment of fear and trust, and how, with Christ, anything is possible.

I don’t claim to know all there is to know about Christ or the nature of God, I believe most of the people here that talk about reincarnation and a spiritual realm, other than the one described in the bible. But I do know this: The focus of it all is love, kindness, and understanding for our fellow humans. That was the core nature of the presence I was confronted with, the one I still feel. And while I may not have understood this lesson fully as an 8-year-old, that experience set me on a path that ultimately saved my life. Not from drowning, but from being empty and hateful, not only to others, but myself too.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 2011

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Heat Stroke Life threatening event, but not clinical death Heat Stroke.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I felt my mother pulling me off the bed, but since I wasn’t dead - just seizing - it translated in the spiritual realm as a force without a visible source, trying to drown me. No

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? More consciousness and alertness than normal. It was the immediate knowing of where he stood, what his nature was, and even what Christ looked like, without directly looking at him. In this realm, it´s all senses melting together, amplifying exactly what you need, the moment you need it, unspoken knowledge of intention and purpose.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? The moment I felt Christs presence, specifically his feet in contact with the water I was afraid of.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

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. I was partly in the real world and partly in the spiritual realm. In that state, I only saw what was in the spiritual realm - not the hotel room - when it came to my normal field of vision. The most fascinating addition to simply 'seeing' was that I also perceived through what we might normally call 'instinct.' It was like watching a movie, and suddenly the scene cut to Christ’s feet touching the water. But it was more than just seeing- I felt how it must have felt. I knew the ground beneath his feet was solid because of that sensation. At the same time, I was looking at the water beside me, on my right, as all this understanding washed over me. It was truly a state of hyper-sensing.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I heard the ocean in the spiritual realm, I was completely unaware of the real world at that time. There were no voices, I don´t even know if I screamed while struggeling.

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 (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 The light Christ emitted, especially from his face, was unearthly- not in the sense that I saw it with my eyes, but in the sense that I knew it was there despite of it.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Some unfamiliar and strange place The vast ocean- it was just the ocean. If not for the fact that I was simultaneously in a hotel bed at the same time, it might as well have been the middle of a real ocean. There was nothing visually distinct about it.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? As panicked as a child could possibly be - lost, without mom or dad - utterly helpless. But then Christ came, and it didn’t even feel like I was a child anymore, if that makes sense. I was simply- a scared being. And then, in an instant, I became a loved being. This love was unlike anything I had ever known, so vast and eternal that it gave me the strength to defy death itself and walk on the water. And I still recognize this kind of love, whenever I come across it in life now. It has a very distinct profile, the identity of life itself, *is* that love.

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? No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back to you? No

Did scenes from the future come to you? Scenes from my personal future No specifics, but I was aware that Christ knew I would live far longer than 8, and that we would meet again when the time came.

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

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Do not know At that age, I have never thought about religion or spirituality, naturally.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I grew into a deeply spiritually aware and devout Christian.

What is your religion now? Christian- Other Christian Nowadays I would decribe myself as an interdenominational Christian.

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 I mean, I was a child. You don’t think about religion, spirituality, or death when you’re a child, especially if you haven’t been exposed to any of those concepts. After the experience, I knew it had happened, but I didn’t know what it meant, and I didn’t dwell on it. For the longest time, it was just 'that weird thing that happened to me back then,' nothing more. Only when the presence of the Holy Spirit within me, began to make me curious, did I start searching for possible explanations. That search led me to Christ, and it was only then that the true nature of the experience slowly began to reveal itself to me.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes In my search to understand what it was, I became very well-read, and through that, I formed my entire worldview and value system. But I always knew that, whatever my worldview became, at its core, I needed to preserve the love and forgiveness Christ radiated- because that was, without a doubt, the most important thing.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin It was Jesus Christ, and all that he represented. Someone who knows you deeply, the identity of life itself, the source of love, God.

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? 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.)? Yes Jesus Christ, the way I described above.

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? Yes Christ himself, as I already described.

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 After all, there would be no point in Christ coming to me if there was nowhere to go after. No, I am certain that the kind of love he radiated is sustainable for eternity.

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 There was definitely Christ’s love- the force that made everything else possible. And if there is a purpose to life, it must be to replicate that kind of love among your fellow human beings.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Large changes in my life You grow up, you change- that’s natural. But in Christ, everything became easier and more certain. Looking back on my experience and how it flourished within me, I can confidently say that every good personality trait I have now stems from my connection to God. Because I was a child at the time of the NDE, I can’t say for sure how I would have turned out without that experience. But judging from my difficult teenage years, I can guess it would have been quite hopeless and empty- my worth tied to my achievements rather than my inherent value- and it likely would have ended very quickly too. But that’s not how it turned out, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain The experience undoubtedly led me down a path of compassion- for others and for myself- that I would never have walked otherwise.

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 I honestly have no idea about the rest of that vacation. My mom said it was great! All I really remember is meeting Christ- haha, no complaints there.

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? When Christ communicates that you can walk on the water, you can walk on that water. In other words, it’s all about trust.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes It was mostly just friends I talked to about it, years after in school conversations. My mother, on the other hand, hates it every time I bring it up. She blames herself for almost losing me due to what she sees as a moment of negligence, instead of listening to my perspective and understanding that I’m genuinely thankful to have had such a profound experience. As a result, the whole vacation became a no-go topic in our family.

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 As I said, for the longest time, it was just 'that weird thing that happened to me once on vacation.' I half-heartedly described it as a heat stroke hallucination, but deep down, I always knew there was more to it. Still, life went on.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. I see it much more clearly now. I can finally voice it for what it truly was- an encounter with Christ, in all the detail I’ve described.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Yes When praying and seeking Christ, there are moments—especially when I’m at rock bottom—when the Holy Spirit, in the form of the love Christ radiated during that experience, floods into my heart. It gives me a burning strength to move forward and remain kind. That’s the closest I can get to Christ without standing directly before him.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? A decade later, I looked up the resort and found the exact places I had wandered from and to. To this day, I have no explanation for how I 'teleported' about a kilometer in a single turn-around moment- not in the spiritual realm, but in the physical one. I still don’t know.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? Not that I know now.

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