Juan HCU NDE

Experience Description:

As a preamble to this story, I want you to know that up until that moment (1981), I was used to swimming in swimming pools and quiet waters. I had never swam at the beach where the waves may drag you out into the sea. It was the summer of 1981 when along with my brothers and cousins I went to the 'Agua Dulce' beach. When I saw the vastness of the sea, I did not want to enter the water so I stayed on the beach taking care of the clothes the others left behind. However, the heat and curiosity attracted me so I put on shorts and went into the water. I only stepped into the shore's shallow waters but curiosity, again, made me go further, so I went further in and came back to the shore. When I took confidence after the second time, I went back and turned to find myself in front of a wave, which dragged and sank me in. When I reacted, I let myself fall to touch the bottom and taking impulse I went up to the surface. I found that the wave dragged me to approximately one hundred meters from the shore. I became nervous and desperate, which made me sink again. Once more I pushed myself from the bottom to go up to the surface and started to cry for help. Fortunately, I was spotted.

However, I couldn't stay above the surface and sank and felt that water was coming into my body through my eyes, my ears; little by little I started to loose oxygen until I reached a mental state where I refused to drown and die. Rapidly, I started to think, 'What have I done? Why me? I have not lived life yet. I have not sinned. It is not fair.' I clung to life but lost consciousness. I do not remember anything. My relatives who were there told me that the lifeguards were giving me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but since I did not react, they used a resuscitator [Translator note: don't know the English term for 'inflador resucitador': it sounds like resuscitator by blowing air]. Fifteen minutes went by and I did not react so they ordered my transportation to the morgue.

This is what is extraordinary: when the lifeguards were saying that I should be taken to the morgue I could hear them but could not tell them I was alive. I couldn't move or make a signal. I suddenly saw a beautiful, bright light, which enlightened the place where I was. I looked like a boy eight or nine years old, I was standing in a white robe. Then, two groups of persons appeared dressed as roman wrestlers; one group was red and the other was blue. They were fighting over me. Both groups wanted to take me and said to each other, 'He belongs to us.' 'No, he belongs here.' It looked like they were going to fight with their swords and during that moment of discussion I took the opportunity to run and escape and this is where I got back my consciousness and started coughing. I immediately got medical attention and am alive to tell you about my Near Death Experience. Lifeguards said it was a miracle 'We thought you were dead and we were taking you to the morgue.'

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: February 28, 1981

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain Accident ahogamiento Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function)

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes 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 I decided to run and escape due to the fear to be taken to an unknown destiny.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? When the two roman groups were fighting over me.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither I appeared like an eight or nine year old boy.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more so

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes It looked like a mine cave; it even had two exits, I took the one to the left to escape.

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes I saw the two groups of roman soldiers wearing - one of them - red uniforms and blue the other.

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 I saw a Light before the two roman soldier groups appeared.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Unfamiliar, strange place

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Desperation and sorrow to be dying so young.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Neither

Did you have a feeling of joy? Neither

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? Neither

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? A conscious decision to 'return' to life

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate católico

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No They have not changed.

What is your religion now? Moderate católico

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No They have not changed.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

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? Yes Long hours of thinking and concentration; I lost my fear to die and from that moment on, I have become stronger in dangerous or stress moments; I perform better, I do not get desperate.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? I resisted death at all times, I clung to life and it was vital to escape while the roman soldiers groups were discussing.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes With my family; they said that I was so lucky, others said it was a miracle because no one could live fifteen minutes without oxygen.

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 understood that when a person clings to something he gets it and that is real. I clung to life and that is why I am alive; I fought for living, did not accept death, and told myself: this is a second opportunity to live. I value life.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It helped me to give meaning to my life.

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? Life and death are within us. He who wants to live must cling to it.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? I think they are well stated. I do not think there's anything to add.