Experience description:

I didn't want to sit in the van but my boyfriend's brother's friends wanted to show off their new camper van.  We had been shooting pool at a pub and instead of retreating to my cabin a half a block away (as I pressed for), the 6 of us piled into the van.  It was winter and raining, so Bill got the heater going. In a few minutes, John flicked his bic to light a cigarette and we watched in astonishment as a thin blue flame circled his hand twice, then rose to the ceiling. After hitting the ceiling of the van, the blueness spread across the ceiling and then there was an explosion of orange flames. My boyfriend and I were in the back of the van and he kept swatting at my head - he was worried about my hair catching fire. There was confusion, panic and yelling and it seemed no one could get the door open.  It was unbelievable to me what was happening. Then everything went into slow motion and I remember a series of thoughts:  'I can't believe this is happening. I shouldn't be here.  We should all be at my cabin, safe. Why am I in here?  Oh my God, I'm going to die. I'm going to die and I haven't been married or have had children. I only have one more year of college left.'  At that thought, I remembered my parents and I imagined them weeping and their unfathomable sorrow. 'Oh, my poor parents!' I was so sad for them. Then my attention shifted to my hands. 'I'm burning up but there's no pain.  Why isn't there pain?'  That was the last thought I remember about the fire. Next, I saw was a very large figure carrying me. I craned my neck to see his face (it was definitely male) but I couldn't. I tried hard but it was like looking through fog, or the figure was made of vapor.  I wanted to know who it was. I was being carried but I also could see me being carried like in a movie. The next moment I was outside the van on my hands and knees in a muddy rain puddle.  The palms of my hands hurt. I raised them to see why. There were rocks embedded deeply in the raw flesh.

We went to ER via ambulance and spent the next 6 days being treated for 2nd and 3rd degree burns on our face and hands. 

Three things I took away from that night:  1) follow your instincts and resist peer pressure, 2) I was protected from pain while dying, and 3) there's Someone watching over me.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   Yes  I was in a Volkswagen camper van with 5 other people. There was a propane leak in the heater hose.  Someone lit a lighter, causing a flash-fire and explosion.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     How do you explain being carried and at the same time, watching yourself be carried?

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      When the experience switched to slow motion

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      Less consciousness and alertness than normal   I was too busy processing the events happening to notice much

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I actually failed to see much else going on around me.  I went internal.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I only heard my own thoughts.  I was not aware that someone had opened the side door and were evacuating.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   amusement  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

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
A large (tall) male, barely discernible. I couldn't see his face though I tried

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.)?   Uncertain   I cannot say that who carried me was not Jesus.  But I doubt it. How could He hide his light?  It was probably an angel

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   No  

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

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

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual
Slowed down.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  Scenes from my personal future  I saw (or imagined) my parents grieving for me. That was the hardest part of my experience.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   Whoever carried me, was spiritual

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   Yes   my parents love for me

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   It was shocking to me that i felt no pain while 'dying'.

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 th   It's indelibly imprinted on me

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   Questions 43-49 do not reflect the effect of my experience directly.  40 years have lapsed between my experience and now.

My experience directly resulted in:   Large changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Yes   I felt I was on borrowed time and I had to live the best I could.  I got married (to the same boyfriend) the following summer and finished college as planned.

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?     Being held by a spirit who veiled his identity.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I shared it with many following the accident. Over time, i stopped telling it. After I began working in a hospital setting, I would share it if it seemed appropriate to their situation. Sometimes, I would tell it to dying, unresponsive patients to let them know I was once in the gray zone.  And that I'll be there again someday.

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   I know it was real because I have no knowledge of evacuating from the back of the van. I was told that I preceded my boyfriend in exiting the side door. I have no visual record of that.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   It's etched into my psyche. I encountered a spirit that save me.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   Uncertain   When my mom was dying in 2008, she saw deceased relatives and people in her bedroom. She became concerned about the 'tall, blonde man standing right behind me'. She was peering at his face located about 1.5 ft above my head. There was only about 10 inches between me and the wall behind me, which means he was standing inside me! Since that day, I've concluded that we have guardian angels assigned to this life.  Angels stay in the background so we don't worship them, so it stands to reason that we don't see their face or know their names. My mom saw his face. I believe he was there to guide me in helping her as she went through her last days on earth.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   no

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes