James L NDE

Experience Description

It was the middle of summer in the Georgia/South Carolina area, and it was very hot outside. My aunt and uncle offered to let me and my 3 sisters go camping with them while my mom worked. Of course, we all wanted to go. However, my aunt and uncle were often hard drinkers and did not adequately watch the kids in the water. I had two older sisters and one younger sister. My cousins were all older than me and therefore, I was not given much attention in the water. I was a fairly good swimmer for that age and thought I could do more than I should have attempted. All of these circumstances basically resulted in me going too far out and not being able to touch the bottom of the water.

I found myself beginning to tire and attempted to hold my breath. I was going to 'go down and bounce up' to save energy. I quickly realized that I still could not reach the bottom. I was out of breath, but then tried to swim towards the shore. Again, I went under the water despite my tremendous struggling to get back to the surface. It seemed that I was about 4 feet under and attempted to reach my right arm up, but it did not break the surface of the water. I was panicking and strongly felt I was about to drown. Suddenly, everything went completely black. It was not dark like the woods at night or scary. Actually, it was quite the opposite. It was an enveloping darkness, that gave me a calming and reassuring feeling. While I know my body stopped struggling, my mind was totally aware of everything. For some strange reason, I wondered how long it would take for them to find my body. I remember thinking that if I was unconscious, I would not be able to think. But, I could think just fine and was was extremely aware of everything. I felt total peace, calm, and total acceptance. I was no longer attempting to get out of the water and was 'matter of fact' that I had now drowned. I remember thinking that although I was only 9 years old and that 'kinda sucks,' but otherwise no big deal.

This felt like it occurred for several minutes, but I honestly have no idea of the time frame. It was during this time that I thought about what would happen to my family. Then, I was suddenly brought to the top of the water. To this day, I do not know if someone pulled me up casually, not realizing the severity my struggling, or what happened. I assumed at the time, it was my oldest sister who always worried I would drown. When I surfaced, her back was to me and she never mentioned anything to me. In fact, no one was around me, except her. I immediately got out the water. While walking alone up to the shore, I was coughing up water and basically collapsed from exhaustion in the sand. My aunt and uncle knew nothing of this was happening and it seemed as though no one noticed. I did not tell anyone for fear of punishment and not being able to return to the water. I also didn't think anyone would believe me.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: July 1973

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Drowning Other: I went under the water while swimming and could not reach the surface.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Neither pleasant NOR distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? No. I lost awareness of my body

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. At that time, the best I can explain is that I suddenly became aware of everything. Even thinking back to my 9 year-old mind, I was suddenly beyond mature (although only temporarily) and totally understood the situation.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? The point at which I stopped struggling and the 'blackness' came.

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. At the time of being in the 'blackness', I felt as if time did not exist. I simply 'was'.

Were your senses More vivid than usual? No

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I was under water and things were not bright. During the 'darkness' I have expressed, my vision was great and could see in all directions.

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 anything with my hearing.

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? No

Did you see an unearthly light? No

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? As mentioned earlier, I felt extreme calm and peace.

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 seem to understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back to you? No

Did scenes from the future come to you? 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- Other Christian Not raised in church going home. Little knowledge of religion at that age.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Christian- Other Christian I have recently developed a stronger sense of faith due to sharing of others experiencing this phenomenon.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience. The experience was not actually religious, but I felt as if there was someone or something there.

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 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.)? 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. I was not raised in a religious home, as my parents never took us to church. However, my younger sister and I would attend with friends. Over the years, I have periodically attended church and took my children to church. I have gradually become more and more 'knowing' in my faith. Although, I am not a zealot by any means. However, the testimonials and acceptance of the NDEs in todays culture have fostered greater confidence in my faith.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes I had always thought it was simply due to being a child during the experience, but I still cannot express the way things suddenly switched from panic and fear to calm and acceptance.

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. Despite the number of years and the fact that I never spoke of this until recently, I remember it exceptionally well. This is something I remember much better than other childhood memories.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain I have had several instances of things happening, such as people that recently died (step brother) repeatedly visit me with the same message, until I told my step dad the message. My older sister dying (signs given to me months ahead despite not being around her). As well as other things and exceptional senses of people.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? No.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes 50 years. I have only recently told anyone. I did not even tell my wife while married to her.

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. I simply did not know what to think of it. I basically pushed it to the back of my mind, trying to keep it to myself.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. I know for certainty that the experience was real. I cannot explain how I was rescued or why I did not need medical attention, but it was beyond simply struggling in the water. I have exceptionally detailed memories in my mind and can even have a sense of how I felt just thinking about the experience.

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

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? I have always had a strong sense of 'wanting to know', even going back to my college days. I think it has stuck with me and I wanted to know what happens when we die, because I felt I was on the doorstep and it was nothing like I could explain.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? None.

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