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3464
quantitative
webpage
NDERF 4822 William H NDE 9062
https://nderf.org/Experiences/1william_h_nde_9062.html
1952
2020
3
M
William experienced a drowning incident around 1952 when he was 3 or 4 years old while checking fishing lines along a fast-moving creek in Michigan with his father, his father's friend, and the friend's 8-9 year old son. Despite his father's warning to stay away from the creek bank, William slid down into the crystal-clear, very cold water. While completely underwater, he was confused about why he couldn't breathe but felt no pain, panic, fear, or anxiety whatsoever.
From underwater, William could see the older boy on the bank above him, then witnessed beautiful rainbow lights appearing. Suddenly he found himself floating several feet up in the air with a complete out-of-body perspective. He saw and heard the older boy yelling to the fathers that he had fallen in the water, watched the men running back from far up the creek, and observed the older boy attempting unsuccessfully to pull him out by his hair. From his aerial viewpoint, he saw his own body in the creek and couldn't understand why he was looking at himself from above, though it seemed nice, fun, and interesting. While floating above, William became less interested in the rescue scene and felt drawn toward a really nice place he sensed was just a moment away. The visual experience was extraordinary - colors flowing like liquid with an intensity that numbed the senses, comparable to sunlight glistening on rippling water or rainbows multiplied beyond description. Everything was sharply in focus despite him being a child who never needed glasses. He felt united with the world around him in Michigan's summer beauty. Something or someone pushed him from behind just as his father pulled his body from the water and performed chest compressions on the bank. William returned to his body with intense, burning chest pain while coughing and vomiting water. He felt angry and found it unfair that he had to come back when he was so near that beautiful place he never saw but knew was there. His primary fear during the experience was that his father would spank him for disobeying. Now at 72, as a Vietnam veteran, college graduate, former priest candidate with an IQ over 140, he still cannot find adequate words to describe the experience that remains his most vivid childhood memory.
5
Other
7
10
24
Moderate Evidence
7
Drowning incident with CPR, but at age 3-4 with limited medical documentation from 1952
Saw rescue attempts from above, older boy pulling hair, rainbow lights, sensed beautiful place nearby
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Creek water
6/26/2025
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