I didn't fully understand my body's limitations until June of this year, when I fell down a fire escape and had a near-death experience that caused me to float outside of myself. It was similar to the experience of Peter Fenwick, a psychiatrist who studied end-of-life. A phenomenon recorded throughout his career. (Dr. Fenwick died on November 22nd at the age of 89.)
I was at a housewarming party and was standing on the fire escape with two friends when I fell, tumbled about 12 feet and hit my head. I lost consciousness for several minutes.
My friend said paramedics arrived quickly, removed the screens from the second-floor windows, and carried me downstairs on a stretcher. As they loaded me into the ambulance, I stood up and watched the fanfare. Concerned neighbors came out into the street. The pale pink color of the sunset. My own body, small and distant in the stretcher, with my roommate holding my palm and my friend holding my ankle. Their touch brought me back to consciousness. I immediately felt pain and asked for water.
This wasn't the first time I'd had an out-of-body experience. As a teenager, I became fascinated with astral projection (intentional out-of-body travel) and began practicing it at night. One night I lunged towards the ceiling and watched myself sleep. A line had been drawn from my sternum to my navel. It resembled an umbilical cord, silver in color and long like a rope.
After the fall, I felt a similar sensation, although there was no leash. Doctors diagnosed a severe concussion, and I spent the next three weeks recuperating at my new home. At first, I struggled to find meaning in my sudden proximity to death. Then I thought about vulnerability and the thousands of subtle ways humans unknowingly evade death every day. And my experience materialized in a new awareness of the self-preservation capabilities of our bodies and a decrease in the fear of death.
When I learned that the New York Times, where I work, was going to publish Dr. Fenwick's obituary, I was reminded of my near-death experience.
His 1995 book Truth in the Light, which he wrote with his wife Elizabeth, contains anecdotes from more than 300 people who have told of near-death experiences, and he rejects labels such as “out-of-body experiences.” Classified by. “Getting closer to the light,'' “Meeting relatives,'' and “Looking back on life.'' Below are some of the stories he has collected.
meet relatives
In 1987, Dawn Gillott was admitted to a British hospital with microplasma pneumonia and was undergoing emergency surgery in the intensive care unit when she suddenly felt herself floating above her body and when she exited a tunnel, it opened. I met Tanohara.
There was a bench seat to the right where my Grandpi was sitting (he had been dead for 7 years). I sat next to him. He asked how I and my family were doing. I was happy and satisfied and my whole family said they were fine.
He said he was worried about my son. My son needed a mother. I told Grampi that I didn't want to go back and that I wanted to be with him. But Grampi insisted that I return for the sake of the children. I then asked if I could pick her up when the time was up. When he started answering, “Yes, I'll be back at four —” my whole body seemed to jump. I looked around and realized I was back at ITU
get closer to the light
Avon Palethorpe was driving on a dark, rainy day in 1986 when his car aquaplaned and spun out. Then she felt herself plunge headfirst into the tunnel.
As the tunnel began to brighten, I felt the presence of people. I couldn't see anything because they weren't human, but I knew their hearts. They were debating whether or not I should go back. This is what made me so safe. I knew I wasn't responsible for making any decisions at all. This was a largely unknown situation for me, but it was incredibly liberating. I also knew that although I couldn't influence the decision they made, whatever it was, it was the right thing to do.
life review
Alan Pring was put under anesthesia for a minor operation in 1979 and immediately lost consciousness.
I had the experience of looking back on my life since childhood, and it included many events that I had completely forgotten. My life passed before me in an instant, and it was everything, including my thoughts. Although some of the content was embarrassing, there were also one or two that I had forgotten, which made me very happy. All in all, I knew I could have had a better life, but it could have been worse.
Amisha Padnani contributed to the research.
