Steve B Probable NDE

Experience Description

While working for a private security company as an armed guard at a New Orleans Public Library. I was outside the front of the library in the street, and heading back into the library when someone from behind calls out something to get my attention. I turn around to find myself staring down the barrel of a 9mm handgun. I then turned around with my hands up, unable to draw my weapon or seek any kind of cover. I was totally screwed! I started to put distance between myselfand the assailant by walking slowly to the sidewalk.

I was commanded, "Stop, or I will shoot you!" I replied, "Don't do that!" and I took a step or two more. That was when the first shot went off—missing me. I made a run for the library's front door. The second shot went off, hitting me in the back and sending me flying through the large doorway. Then my adrenaline kicked in and there I was standing up, brandishing my weapon. I was looking around everywhere for my assailant. But then I stumbled, falling backwards. The next thing I knew, someone was grabbing me from behind and pulling me into the library. Then the third shot went off, just missing me and my rescuer. I was moved into the main area of the library. There was pure chaos, with children crying and people yelling. My rescuer was still putting pressure with a towel on my wound when the police finally arrived. I felt weak but was able to give a description of the assailant. Soon the emergency medical technicians arrived by ambulance, and they hurried me off to the emergency room.

The next thing I knew, I was in a sort of 'black box,' like a very dark void. It was neither pleasant nor unpleasant. I was aware of "myself," Steve, but I didn't seem to have a physical body. I was wondering where I was with all this blackness surrounding me—but I was definitely aware of myself. Next appeared a vertical line of bright, white light, from the highest to the lowest point in front of me. The light started to open, as a door would. Two heads stuck out through the emergent opening and were peering at me. They were not too close, but not too far away. I struggled to focus on them. One of the Beings appeared to be wearing a white hat and the other Being, a black hat. Both Beings had large black eyes. Finally, both Beings slowly withdrew the way they had entered, through the contracting "doorway" of light, which then closed completely. The bright light dissipated. Only darkness remained.

I woke up in the intensive care unit.


Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 10/17/17

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes. Criminal attack. Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function)

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

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes. I found myself in a 'black box' without a physical body. I clearly left my body and existed outside it

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. Yes at the time my survival instinct kicked in.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? With the realization of being shot.

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. I had no sense of time.

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. Slow motion at first, then Incredibly fast

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Heightened hearing.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere, as if by ESP? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No. I found myself in a 'black box.'

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? An unusually bright light

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes. The light was Very Bright and Hard to look at

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm. A black void with presence. There was a bright light. and two entities

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Uncertain

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

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? Jewish

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes

What is your religion now? Jewish

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.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain

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. There were two entities; one was black and the other was white.

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? Uncertain

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Uncertain

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Uncertain

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? Uncertain

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? An afterlife definitely exists. Uncertain

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? Large changes in my life

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes

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 more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience.

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

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Upon regaining consciousness

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

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

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

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? Uncertain