Michael C FDE

Experience Description

On a morning in 2002, I was bodyboarding when I was bit by a great white shark. I had been in the water about an hour or so and was waiting for a set of waves. I suddenly felt a tremendous force underneath me that lifted me out of the water. Odd as it sounds, I felt like I was being hit by a truck. I had no idea what it was until almost simultaneously, I felt extreme excruciating pain in my legs.

At that moment, I realized that I was being attacked by a shark and thought, 'Is this the way I go?' At the same time, I saw a 'movie reel' of my life go by, from the time I was a toddler to the present.

As the shark was bringing me down toward the water, it let go of me. I saw it for the first time. The shark was about an arm's length away from me, it was on its side and slowly retreating into the water. The top part of its body was grey and the bottom half was white. The shark's mouth was open with serrated, angular teeth. I also saw its eye and dorsal fin. Then it was gone and I was treading water. Not more than 2-3 seconds had passed.

The initial pain dissipated almost immediately; I believe due to shock. In fact, I briefly wondered if the event even happened because I was thinking, 'Did that just really happen?' It was a very bizarre feeling. Carlo, a surfer, paddled over to me. He urgently asked how I was doing and then told me we needed to get out of the water immediately because the shark was probably circling under the surface waiting to come back. My legs were hammered, and I was bleeding. Carlo told me to get on his board so that he could push me to shore. But, I felt I could paddle myself despite my leg injuries. Carlo stayed with me as we paddled to shore. I was unable to stand up when we reached the shore and a number of surfers grabbed me, pulled me up the sand, and away from the water. Several of them and a park ranger tended to me while a helicopter was enroute to transport me to a hospital.

I was in the hospital for almost two weeks and had several surgeries due to injuries to both legs. The most serious of which was to my left peroneal nerve that had been cut. This injury left me with foot drop and required repair by a neurosurgical specialist. I was out of work for several weeks and unable to bodyboard or workout for about 3 months. But I did return to the water and my karate dojo. I eventually had a full recovery. Several surfers who witnessed the incident, and a shark researcher, estimated the shark's size between 15'-17'.

Of interest, I never had a nightmare or ill-will following this incident. Nor did I ever experience any symptoms of PTSD.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: November 28, 2002

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Great White shark attack Life threatening event, but not clinical death. I was in the jaws of a 15-17 foot great white shark.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? No

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. More focused and more intense.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? The entire time, from the moment I was struck to the time I entered the helicopter.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning. Not more than 2-3 seconds went by from the time I felt the initial impact, to the realization of what was happening, to the 'movie reel' of my life, to the shark letting go and withdrawing back into the water. It was as if time was suspended.

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 don't recall my vision being any different.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I don't recall my hearing being any different.

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? Fear.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? No

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? 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? Unaffiliated- Atheist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Unaffiliated- Atheist

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 fact that my entire life (the movie reel) went by in a flash was extraordinary. I had never thought about that as a possibility before and I'm not sure I would have believed it could happen. I typically place a lot of emphasis on facts and evidence and this experience was well beyond that.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain I'm probably a little more open to what our bodies can do under extreme life threatening events.

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 don't think any changes occurred as a result of the experience as defined above.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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 as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience. The whole incident is one I will never forget. Honestly, the experience was probably the least important thing that happened to me that day. Being hit by a great white shark in and of itself is other worldly, as well as the injuries and pain, the impact on family and friends, press coverage and notoriety.

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? Yes, in the sense that I had no idea that I was capable of such an experience.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Within days. Most of the reactions seemed to be of surprise and/or interest. I don't really know if any were influenced.

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 did not really reflect on it all that much in light of my injuries and recovery. Yet, I was amazed that I could see my life in a split second or flash. It was truly an extraordinary occurrence.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real See 56.

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? No.

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