Bouillot NDE

Experience Description

I fell into the river at the foot of a bridge. It was in summer and I had boots on. I couldn't swim. After a short panic underwater, I no longer felt my body and started to experience a feeling of happiness. In a moment that seemed very short to me, I reviewed the happy events of the life I had led. Then I was floating in a white light. Next, I had the feeling that I was asked very gently to make a choice between living or not living. I experienced that state of weightlessness as very pleasant. Then I regained consciousness because someone had dived in the water and had gotten me out. On the bank of the river I felt very cold.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 07/1983

NDE Elements:

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

How do you consider the content of your experience? Positive

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? No

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I felt very lucid and happy.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

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

The experience included: Light

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes A white light engulfed me.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Happiness, calm, peacefulness.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control I saw in a very short time, like accelerated, the happy events of my life.

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will I was five years old then, I had the feeling that I had to make a choice between living and not living, but I felt good, I didn't seem to have had a strong wish to get back into my body.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal

What is your religion now? Liberal

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

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes

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 best part was a feeling of happiness and absolute calm. The worst part was to be back out of the water.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Relative surprise.

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