It was around this same time of the year more than 50 years ago that my dad and I came very close to drowning during a fishing trip. But it wasn't until I read of the tragic drowning of young 17-year-old that the enormity of the grace of God hit me hard. I must have been no more than 12 or 13 at the time but still remember how I had to hold my dad up in the 50-degree water until help could arrive. He soon when into shock from hypothermia and became unable to hold onto his life preserver. My dad would later tell me he had already considered himself a goner and hoped that I would be able to survive so my mom would be left without us both. You learn a lot from a near death experience but realizing all that all those things you would have never enjoyed probably won't hit you until after you've had the chance to look back on them. I know that's what hit me most after learning of this young man's tragic death. He will never get married and have kids, be able to start and end a life-long career and enjoy all life as to offer along the way. Sure, there will be scars and a lot of tears along the way. But even the scars and tears can leave lessons that point to way God's grace is such a wonderful gift.

Yes. Shared it on here years back. Just glad the good Lord had different plans for me that day.

Yes! I shared it a while back. They said I died “but we got you back”. I was only 16, with so much life ahead of me.

I almost drowned in the Trinity River below the Lake Worth dam when I was a young teen. Hanging with a group of older boys that decided to swim across the river when the water was coming over the spillway. I made it about half ways when I went under. a couple of times Luckily, one of the older guys was able to save me. Think about it every time I hear about a drowning.
Second was with my cancer treatment. The radiation and chemo were so devastating on my body, and mind, that I tried to stop treatment. My fiancée was traumatized with my decision and got the radiation Oncologist to sit me down for a come to Jesus talk. Told me, in no uncertain ways, that I was making an unwise decision and that he only had one other person do that at this stage and that person died in a most gruesome way. After a lot of tears, I immediately in to get zapped again That happened 13 years ago this week. I guess God has other plans for me.

I had 2 when I was just a kid. The first one was when I was at a neighbor's stock tank and tried pulling up a fish basket. The bank was very steep and I slipped and fell into water way over my head. All I remember was my dad saw me and was able to get me out before I drowned. The second one was about the same time. My dad farmed peanuts and had a 50 gallon barrel for gas in his truck to fill up his tractor during harvest. I had seen him syphon gas and thought I`d give it a try. It didn`t work out very good either. I ended up swallowing and then getting gasoline in my lungs immediately. I ran to get water from our well house but passed out before I could get any water and later woke up in the emergency room while they were pumping out my stomach. I spent about 5 days in the hospital and was sent home. I was about 5 or 6 years old both times. I like to tell the story about the gas where I ran for water but never got to the well house. I always say that I just ran out of gas. I guess I lived to laugh about it later on. I`m pretty sure that I probably would have died both times if someone hadn`t been there.

I used to ride motorcycles a lot and crash a lot. Have woken up in the back of an ambulance many times.

Brought back twice.

Wow lots of near death on here. I love hearing your stories.

Not me but my daughter almost bit it.

Went to a buddy's house to play water volleyball, he had a killer setup. Upper level was a wade pool with a jacuzzi next to it separated by about 5', below that was a true rectangular pool built specific for water volleyball.
Victoria was probably around 3 years old and wanted to go, my buddy was going with his daughter who was around 12 and said she would watch Victoria while I was in the lower pool playing.

My turn in the game, look back and Vic and sitter are in the wade pool all good. I get through the first game which we lost, was asked to stay in the pool by the incoming challenging team and normally would accept every time, this time I declined so I could be with my little girl. Walk up the steps and see the sitter on the other end of the wade pool but no Victoria, asked where she was and sitter said no clue?

Looked around the pool area to no avail then walked up a few steps and looked into the jacuzzi and there she was laying motionless at the bottom. Jumped in pulled her out and she started heaving water but was okay Thank God!
I went over to a private area and sat in the grass with her in my arms tears flowing freely of joy and disbelief of what almost happened..

Two fortunate things happened or this would have been a tragedy that I could not imagine living with. One our team lost, if not I would have played until we did, next me doing the unheard of, declining to play another game.

Yes 99% blockage in my LAD. If I did not force schedule that appointment (difficult to get in due to Covid, elective procedure) Cardiologist said I would have been dead within 2-3 days, he was shocked when he came over to me while on operating room table after procedure.

Between bad car wrecks and fighting for control of guns, I had to take a minute to remember it all.

1084 blood sugar diabetic coma, 84.5 degree core temp when found, Kidneys shut down, Liver almost shutdown 84.5 degree core temp when found, Then heart attack and shocked to get the ticker going. Guess that might qualify

Near drowning here. Fell off my innertube as we crossed a rapid into a very deep hole and stupidly had tennis shoes on. Came within a trice struggling to get to a rock to hang onto. Probably 17.
Then there were the two divorces.

Nope, never.

Many times.

95% were on the job.

Water skiing, fell hard and went under with a burst and ear drum. Lost my equilibrium and couldn't tell up from down. Searing pain, screaming under water, panic, need to breath, crappy life vest did not do its job. Then something just calmed me and I floated to the surface face down....and rolled over. They had to pull me in the boat as the whole world was spinning. It is a totally debilitating condition and not something you want to experience in the water.

Too many to count. A few stick out more than others, drowning was one of them.

I’ve heard it said your entire life flashes before your eyes when you think you’re about to die. According to my dad, it really does.

If it happens real fast, like my dying (short term) did, there’s nothing flashing before your eyes. I was perfectly fine. They gave me a shot (dentist did, way back in my mouth). I woke up, all wet, surrounded by crash equipment and two very pale people, not knowing what I was waking up from. No memory of going to sleep or being drowsy, so waking up or regaining consciousness was unexplainable. So I asked what happened and was told that I had quit breathing and my heart had stopped beating. “But we got you back”.

Hard to put it in an understandable way. I was alive and then I was alive. Somewhere in the middle, and for how long I don’t know, I was not alive. If I eventually die like that (again), I suppose it’s a good way to go.

When I had a big head on car wreck, all I had time to do was say “Oh Sh__”. Coulda died then. I woke up later and was not dead.

Had a heart attack in 2013, let me just say that there is a light, a beautiful bright light!!

Motorcycle wreck in Arkansas. Hit a dog that came out of a bar ditch, at least I was told three days after. I have no memory of the accident until I woke up in a Little Rock hospital. Wife flew into Little Rock and for 12 hours thought I was a goner. Needless to say my riding days were over!

Yep, cat grabbed my balls once with both front claws and tried to eat them while I threw my wife off in an attempt to defend myself screaming like a little bitch, felt like near death at the moment. Have hated cats ever since...

True story.

Wife and I were going to meet some friends for dinner in town at a restaurant.

Per usual.....she was taking her time and was going to make us late (for the millionth time).

I knocked on the bathroom door and asked her if she was about ready.....because we were going to be LATE.

She said she was putting on her make-up. Another five minutes pass and I've lost all my patience by then. Asked again if she was about ready. Same reply "I'm putting on my makeup".

I blurted out "Come on! Godzilla could have been ready by now....!" Bathroom door opened and a 'near death' experience almost happened. I wisely retreated to the living room and waited in silence.

Slept with one eye open that night.

I am a necrotizing fasciitis, sepsis, and cdiff survivor. All at the same time. I should not be alive. Horrible miserable painful and out of mind experience. Those close to me say I returned a different person. A different personality.