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4610
qualitative
journal
White, John. "My Near-Death Experience." The Journal for Spiritual and Consciousness Studies, Inc. Pages 151-158. Copyright Date Not Listed. John White, Case 1
The Journal for Spiritual and Consciousness Studies, Inc. Pages 151-158
1953
2017
14
M
In 1953, fourteen-year-old John White nearly drowned at Mixville Pond in Cheshire, Connecticut. While showing off on a diving platform, he attempted a dangerous "sailor dive" with his arms at his sides, plunging headfirst at a steep angle with unusual speed. He struck his forehead on the sandy bottom with such force that he lost consciousness immediately, his body activating the drowning reflex that closed his windpipe. Lying unconscious on the pond floor for several minutes, his awareness shifted from blank nothingness to a sensation of wonderful, warm tranquility and security. In this state, he experienced the classic life review - not sequential but all-at-once, each scene discrete yet simultaneous. Unlike normal vision limited to 120 degrees, his visual field was a full 360 degrees, seeing everything around him front and back. He lived and felt these scenes as if experiencing them for the first time while knowing they had happened earlier. After drifting in this peaceful state, he became aware of pounding in his ears and his chest heaving, trying to breathe. Panic set in as he realized he was drowning in the dark murky water. His hand brushed the bottom, giving him direction, and he kicked wildly to swim up though his limbs barely moved from near-paralysis. Breaking the surface, he still could not breathe or call for help due to the powerful airway-stoppage reflex. Through tremendous will, he remained above water until his airway opened, then swam exhaustedly to a raft where he rested before riding his bike home, telling no one about the experience for many years.
5
Other
2
5
7
Weak Evidence
0
Life-threatening drowning event with loss of consciousness
Life review experience but no specific verifiable perceptions
written_account
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0.00
0.00
0.00
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0.00
Unconscious underwater
7/25/2025
2
0
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