John M NDE

Experience Description

I was performing a Reference Mirror Azimuth Determination, with my team member, TSgt (technical sergeant) Will G. We just finished up and were tearing down the equipment. I was taking a short cut, and decided to disconnect a cable, without first disconnect power. The cable ended up having a broken shield, and while I was disconnecting it, my other hand was wrapped around a solid aluminum theodolite mount. I pulled 440 AC through the chest for nearly thirty seconds (according to Will). While I was disconnecting, (a bayonet mounted cable), with a broken shield, the power was jumping over the Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) shield, directly through my right hand, across the chest, and out through my left hand.

I could feel a small vibration, more like a humming, but couldn't talk. I couldn't let go and certainly couldn't communicate with Will. He was twenty feet away, tearing down other equipment. I have no idea how long it was before he noticed, but I distinctly remember looking down at myself, from about eight feet away, and four to six feet above me. I was in front of myself, seeing me being electrocuted. I could see Will breaking down the tool kit, and I could see me, doing the stupid maintenance trick, and the only feeling I had, was that I was being very stupid, and I would remember this dumb act for quite some time to come. I had a feeling of anger, knowing that if I didn't get my butt back in gear soon, we would have some major explaining to do to the commander. I wasn't at peace, I was upset that I was malingering and goofing off. It was a very strange experience.

I remember Will turning toward me and telling me to get my butt in gear and seeing him speak to me, but I couldn't answer. He shouted twice, then came over to me, and saw the problem. He raced back, pulled the power and I collapsed. The only thought that was going through my mind, was 'How am I going to explain this to the old man!'

The next thing I remember was I'm lying topside (ground level), and two medical technicians were looking at me really funny like. It turns out, Will carried me topside, and called the ambulance. He performed CPR on me for twenty to thirty minutes, though he did say I was breathing, but my heart sounded funny. The medical technicians zapped me, after reading my sinus rhythm was one hundred and eighty degrees out of sync. After stabilizing, I was admitted to the base hospital.

Will had the foresight to stick a sheet of paper in my pocket, with 'our story' to cover our butts for the stupid maintenance trick I had performed. When I was undressing, I found it, and of course memorized it, so our stories would match, when the safety guys showed up. He turned in the equipment for repair, and they found the bad shielding. Luckily, a capacitance discharge could have caused the problem, had I disconnected power first!

I didn't feel the peace that Dr. Jeff spoke of, but a very embarrassing feeling that my hinny was going to be fried for the violation of Weapon System Safety Rules (WSSR's). For over ten years, I had brown spots on my hands and right fingers, reminding me of the dumbass mistake.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: June, 1984

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident Stupid maintenance Life threatening event, but not clinical death I was being electrocuted, so I would have to say it was very much life threatening.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Positive

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes See above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? In my body, I seemed unaware of what was going on. Looking down from above, I could see everything and hear everything that was happening. I could see Will move around and watch me being electrocuted, though that thought had not entered into my mind. I was embarrassed, but no cognizant of the fact I was getting electrocuted.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning That was a possibility. I felt that I was watching myself for a long time, perhaps twenty minutes, but I was assured by Will, that it was only a few seconds.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? 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? Anger for being really stupid.

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

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? Moderate Generic Protestant

What is your religion now? Moderate Generic Protestant

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes Never broke the safety rules again! Towed the line after that one.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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? Trying to explain how it happened. Returning to the body and knowing my time wasn't up yet.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I told my Pastor at the time at Trinity Nazarene, and later on, to a psychologist, who was my friend. Both were very surprised to see that I was alive, and that I was angry at being caught with my pants down. Both expected a life changing event, and nothing else came of it.

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