Larry S NDE

Experience Description

I experienced a massive heart attack that started at a nearby golf course (five miles from hospital). I was clutching my chest in my car realizing this was a heart attack probably from smoking and genetics. I decided to drive myself to the hospital. The pain felt like a pick-axe being struck to my sternum and I remember about half of the drive to the hospital.

At the time, I was a State Police officer and was familiar with the emergency room and drove into the lot, locked my car and staggered into the waiting room. I collapsed in a chair and announced I was having a heart attack.

I was rushed into the emergency room and several people were removing my clothes, putting IVs in, and asking questions like when did this start. I gave them the phone number for my wife and could hear a person saying your husband is having a heart attack.

I remember being wheeled into an elevator and being rolled down a hallway. I was apologizing to the doctor for not answering his questions but that this really, really hurt.

The next instant I was standing in a hallway or a breezeway. The lighting was dim and I could see a man ahead of me wearing a very nice business suit and overcoat. He was also wearing a nice hat like a successful business man would wear. I was sure I did not know this person but started to walk towards him. As I walked, I remember telling myself, 'Don't forget this.' Approximately halfway to him, I had an uncontrollable urge to open my eyes. When I did, a nurse was in my face shaking and shouting, 'Larry! Larry! Larry!' When she noticed my eyes open, she told me in a relieved voice that they had lost me and had hit my chest and then shocked me twice to bring me back. Because of my police training, I was aware she had shaken and shouted to an unconscious person. My response to her was 'cool'.

I had no pain after I lost consciousness and after being revived, of course a Demerol drip helped.

Apparently A major artery to the top of my heart was blocked and the clot buster blew thirty percent of it out and I went into fibrillation. I had burn marks on my chest and back from the shock. I also received a damaged left rotator cuff from the shocking.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 03/06/1999

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Heart attack Other massive heart attack Cardiac arrest.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

The experience included: Out of body experience

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? Normal consciousness and alertness As above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? During the time I was in the breeze way going to the stranger.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning As described, it was a hallway or breezeway that seemed incomplete.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Now that I think about it, the vision was in black and white. It was clear enough for a dim lighting view. I also never saw the person's face or felt I knew him. I also remember that there were no peripheral objects, only a solid walkway and a wall to my left. Open space to my right with nothing in it.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes As described before, a well-dressed stranger.

The experience included: Darkness

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? No

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? At the time, I felt no unusual emotions. Just the awareness of me telling myself not to forget this.

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? I felt united or one with the world

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

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? Scenes from the world's future

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

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Moderate

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? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them

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? No

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The meaningful part was the survival. I'm convinced it's an example to be shared with others to help prevent heart attacks.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes That day I shared the experience with my family. My mother thought that the stranger might have been my deceased grandfather. We are all Christians and the response was one of acceptance without a clear understanding of the meaning. I have subsequently told many people about my total heart attack experience. I was told that due to the severity of my heart attack, less than twenty-five percent survive even in the hospital. I feel that I should share so that others will heed early signs and get treatment.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I had read or heard about near death experiences. At first, I was concerned that I didn't see the 'bright light'. I talked with a psychologist for about a year and we concluded about the light. I'm comfortable that it meant I had more work to do on my Christianity.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real It was very clear to me then and now that I experienced the event. It was not like a dream that when you wake your recollection is disjointed and nonsensical. For me it was real.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It happened eight years ago and I remember it like it just happened. It was a significant event in my life unlike any other.

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