How Close Have You Been To Dying?

Question

I remember when I was young walking round the corner with my mum from the Oxford St bus station in Belfast just before the IRA blew it up (on what is known as Bloody Friday). That one blast resulted in the murder of two soldiers and multiple injuries to people nearby. I believe this experience has given me a very different perspective on life as I have grown up as I have constantly reminded myself that had I not turned the corner when I did, it's quite likely I wouldn't be here now. I'm not saying I'm not scared of death, I am. But as I have grown older I have come to believe that when your number's up, it doesn't matter how much you try to wrap yourself in cotton wool, if it's going to happen it will.

So the question is, have you ever been in a situation where you could have potentially died? And has that experience shaped your life and attitude towards the life that you have?

Answer 1

Had an ectopic pregnancy which ruptured a tube. Came within an hour of death they told me afterwards, because of internal bleeding. The thing I realised then was that there are worse things than death. The pain was so intense I just wanted out. I think everything seemed more vivid and my awareness of everyday things was stronger afterwards but the feeling didn't last long

Answer 2

I was supposed to move into a certain hostel, but due to circumstances our move was postponed to the following week. The weekend in between there was a fire at 2am in the middle of winter- many students died or broke their backs jumping out the windows.

Ecclesiastes 9:11- I returned to see under the sun that the swift do not have the race, nor the mighty ones the battle, nor do the wise also have the food, nor do the understanding ones also have the riches, nor do even those having knowledge have the favor; because time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all.

Answer 3

I was about one red traffic light away from dying on the way to the hospital. The doc said if we hadnt gone through the red lights I would have died in the ambulance. At the time i didnt give a hoot, I felt very peaceful and all the pain went away. But now I look back at this in amazement, and sometimes wonder why I have done nothing with my life. However my family will tell you I have done amazing things that they would never have achieved. So I think its down to perspective. I think I was too young at the time to realise the impact of my impending death so it didnt change anything at the time.

Answer 4

Yes, several people I am very close to die or come close to dying. I myself died for a very short period of time and came back. Nothing happened I did not see anything, did not have any experiences. I have been with many people who have died and they have not had any supernatural or spiritual experiences and no one had any change of heart. I am sure beyond any doubt there is nothing else out there, there is nothing after death. Death is just like sleeping without dreams and its permanent. Its not scary and its peaceful. Really there is nothing to fear. As for your niece, I am sorry about her diagnosis, and hopefully she can have good medical care and some quality of life before she dies. The best you can do for her is just make her short time here as good as it can be and make her as comfortable and happy as she can be. If she is capable of understanding later you can just say you will go to sleep. Its a tragedy when such as young child is sick and will die but there is still no evidence at all of anything else being out there. Sometimes there are no reasons no answers. Try to help your family in any way you can to support them with their daughter, the next years will be difficult and they will need a lot of support.

Answer 5

Well I'm 35 and my mum is 72 (she was 36 when she had me).

When she was a young child in WWII a German bomber dropped a huge spiked landmine at the end of her road in Newport, South Wales - it obliterated about 50 houses and killed nearly 200 people.

If that guy had been a second later with his finger on the button as that plane flew overhead it would have hit my mum's house, killed her and her family.

And I would never have been born.

I guess thats the closest I've been to death - or rather non existence.

Answer 6

In 1984 I attempted suicide with an overdose of pills. I wound up in a coma, and the Dr said I almost croaked.

What did I think when I was finally alert? I was SO GLAD that my life was saved! How has it shaped me? I made a promise to God that I would NEVER EVER do that again. Obviously I've kept the promise, lol. I mean, a promise to GOD is one that you can't break, EVER. I mean, it's a promise to GOD!

I realized that no matter how dim the future seems, no matter how much emotional pain I'm going through, there is always a purpose for being here, and the problems of right now will not last forever. I realized never to give up on myself. I realized that God gave me the PRECIOUS gift of life, so it's not up to me to end it, but to improve it.

Answer 7

I was internally bleeding for over 1 week and kept being misdiagnosed at the emergency room in the hospital (over the course of 4 different visits).

Finally a specialist determined I was internally bleeding and I was rushed to surgery. They drained 1L of blood and repaired my rupture.

I did not really realize the magnitude of what had happened until I learned of other people I know who lost loved ones with a similar experience.

I don't think this experience changed me; but re-affirmed by belief in the power of prayer.

Answer 8

Very close, but not for anything like the same reason. I am a recovered alcoholic and after drinking for 50 years went to live in Thailand last year.

I had to come back to this country for rehab last November, the doctor there told me if I didn't stop I'd be dead in a year.

I havn't had a drink since, I owe my life to AA.

It has changed my outlook on life, I am a more tolerant person who is very happy in recovery, and who helps other alcoholics overcome this dreadful disease.

Answer 9

I was driving along the 405 freeway in so cal once. There were 6 lanes of traffic, and several speeding cars on the road in all the lanes. I was on the far right. Some guy swerved into my lane so I swerved right real fast, going at least 70 mph. The car suddenly lurched back to the left, as I lost total control of the steering wheel. As the car spun through all the lanes of traffic, I just waited to die and hoped the impact would be fast. I had no control over the steering wheel, but saw it moving. Next thing I know, I was headed directly for the center divider, about to slam into it. The brakes were stuck no matter how hard I slammed them. But right before impact, the car just lurched to a stop on its own.
After regaining composure, I saw one stopped car swerved at an angle, who obviously had to avoid me. But in all the other lanes, traffic was flowing just like before. I felt like I had just slipped right through. There were several cars on the freeway at that time. My car was untouched.

I realized that I had been spared, for a reason. I felt that others might have been killed in this situation, but God had some kind of work for me to do before leaving my body. And since that day 20 years ago, that is how I have lived my life.

Answer 10

I cant remember the name of the pub , but i was in the pub that was under the retunder building the night before and was due to be there on the night the IRA blow it up killing many many people in the birmingham pub bombings.....

Luckily for me and the guy i was meeting i called the night off as i didnt feel well (Had a cold)

That cold saved my life.....

Since then i have met two people one who lost a girlfriend and one who lost his brother....

My heart go out to all those people who lost someone that night xxx

Suz