William H NDE

Experience Description

I was with my father, his friend, and the friend's older son who was 8 or 9 years old. We were walking along a fast-moving, crystal-clear creek in Michigan. It was mid-summer.

We were checking fishing set-lines. My father had told me to stay away from the creek bank. I did not listen to him and slid down the bank and into the water. It was very cold.

I was trying to breathe in while completely under water. I was confused as to why I wasn't getting any air. There was absolutely no pain, panic, fear, or anxiety.

I was looking up and could see the older boy on the bank. Then I saw beautiful, rainbow lights.

Then I was several feet up in the air. I saw and heard the older boy yelling to my father and his dad that I had fallen into the water.

The fathers had walked far up the creek bank. I became very scared because my father had warned me not to go near the creek.

The dads were running back towards the site. I looked down and saw my body in the creek. I couldn't understand why I was looking at myself from up in the air, but it seemed nice, fun, and interesting.

However, I knew my dad would spank me for disobeying him. That's what drove my fear. So, I was thinking about how I would get myself out of the creek while up in the air watching myself. I didn't know what to do.

Then I saw the older boy grab my body by the hair and try to pull me out of the water but he couldn't.

As I was watching this, I felt myself becoming less interested and felt like leaving because, somehow, I knew there was a really nice place just a moment away. I began to want to go there very much.

My dad got there on the bank and pulled me out. I saw myself lying face up on the bank and my father pushing on my chest.

The fathers and the older boy were very distressed and yelling. I was scared that my dad would spank me, so I was going to go to that other place I could sense was very near.

Then something or someone 'pushed' me from behind and I woke up in my body. My chest was burning. The pain was intense. I was coughing and vomiting water.

I don't remember anything the others said. I was so angry for being back when I was so near that beautiful place that I never saw; but I knew was there.

I was crying, but not from fear or panic. I felt it was so unfair that I had to come back to my body.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: Approx 1952

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain. Drowning. CPR given. Other: Too young to know what was happening to me. I was 3 or 4 years old. I did not have a clue about death.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Both pleasant AND distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I was only scared when I saw my father pull me out of the water because I thought he would spank me. I was somewhat annoyed that I had to hear things. 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. I couldn't understand what was happening to me, but it felt 'right' and natural. I saw beautiful lights. It was like I was a part of the world around me and Michigan in the summer is beautiful beyond words when you are a child. I knew without a doubt there was a place even more beautiful just a blink away. I have never felt that good since.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? While I was up in the air

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. I was 3 or 4 years old. Time was meaningless at that age.

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. I was a child. I've never needed glasses but everything was sharply in focus. Like the colors were flowing liquid.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I really didn't feel like listening to anything because the experience of vision was so intense.

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

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain. I knew there was a place to go but something or someone made me understand it was not to be yet.

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? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes Have you ever seen sunlight glisten on rippling water or rainbows of colors? Multiply that until it numbs your senses. That is the only way I can explain it.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Awe. Mild confusion. Pleasant.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

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? 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? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will. I was angry that I couldn't go on.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Catholic Just a young child, 3 or 4 years old. Not aware of religious affiliation or practice.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Other or several faiths: Believe in a Supreme Being of some kind. A nonspecific 'Life Force'

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 experienc.e I was 3 or 4 years old. I didn't know much at that age about what is real and what is imaginary.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain. I was very young.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? 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? Unknown 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? Unknown. I was too young to appreciate the experience

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes I'm 72 years old, a Viet Nam veteran, and a college graduate. I've been many places around the world. Studied to be a Priest. I also have an IQ measured at over 140. Words will not come to me to come anywhere close to describe the experience.

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? Uncertain I was too young.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The whole experience sticks in my mind. Not sure of why it happened.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes It was probably 30 years or more before I told someone. They were scared of dying so I told them I was beyond doubting that existence goes on after physical death.

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. Even though I was very young, I knew the experience was real. But I also knew I was not to share it for a long time.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It happened. There is no doubt in my mind

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? Wish I could talk to others who have had a NDE at a very young age.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? Not sure.