My husband was in St. Pancras Hospital in London having been in an industrial accident. For a while we didn't know if he would be able to see again as his eyes were burnt shut. I had two small children aged five and nearly three.

On the day of the event, I was coming down with a cold and feeling a little sorry for myself but I told myself to be strong for my family. The walk from the station to the hospital led under a railway bridge and as I approached the bridge I couldn't see under it as it was quite dark under there even though this was about 11.00 am. I thought to myself "I can't go under there, but I have to to get to Mick" I remember feeling very alone.

Suddenly I was bathed in a bright white light which came from my right, I felt that the light went on forever and within it was a presence, (the only way I can describe it), and complete and pure love. I lost track of time and was aware of my current physical surroundings but unable to see them as I could only see the light. Within what must have been a few seconds I felt completely comforted and able to walk under the bridge as many times as I needed to, I felt I could do anything alone as I was never really alone. There was no voice, no vision of a being, just the light and the knowledge that we are loved and never alone. I told no one of this event until years after.

A friend was discussing her NDE and was very tearful, telling me that no one in her family would allow her to discuss it and made her feel that her experience was invalid. I was able to reassure her that it was real because of what had happened to me. I have since found others who I have been able to give some comfort to. I find also that meditating allows me 'tap in' to that feeling again to a much lesser extent and use it to help myself and others when they feel alone or down.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     No

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes

The experience was felt on a level I have not previously or since experienced therefore the points of reference within language cannot do justice to it and somehow diminish it. It is a gift and can only be experienced.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          No

Although I knew immediately that there was no real threat immediately before the event I felt fear and I felt very alone more alone than I had ever felt before or since. The event showed me in a second that I and all of us are definitely not alone.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           Conscious and alert

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   no it was very real, more real than life

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            love, peace and comfort

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           none, in fact complete silence

LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?    No

Did you see a light?           Yes

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No

I felt a presence

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state? NoDid you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later? No

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes

I could no longer see my surroundings, just the light I noticed the silence and no peripheral noises such as traffic. It was a faily deserted area.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes

after the experience I realise only a few seconds could have passed as I was still walking and had only progressed a few steps. During the experience I had felt that time was irrelevent in that many things had been transmitted to me, Love, peace and knowledge that we are far greater than our physical body. In retrospect this must have taken time. At that moment there was no time.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Yes

As above, we are much more than our physical body. We are in fact huge and limitless in language terms there is no end to us and no begining. We are not alone in any sense of the word. We are completely loved and accepted, and all we have to do is sincerely ask for help and we will have it.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             No

Did you become aware of future events?       Uncertain

When I moved to Australia in 1981 I dreamt of a car accident the day before we were involved in it. That is the only experience I have had of precognition.

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes

I am absolutely certain that there is no death, that we are never alone and that we are loved.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       It has made me less frightened to try new things and spurred me to keep investigating and learning about making correct judgements while not judging others. Just to keep thinking about things I suppose in the knowledge that we can't just sit around and do nothing. We have to help each other and improve our ability to function at this level of existence

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Uncertain

I'm not sure if my search for more knowledge on ethics and morals of daily life would have fizzled out if not for this experience but I don't think so. I've always asked questions of the unexplained, the fuzzy areas of life. I'm very committed to self improvement but I'm very conscious of the amount of false information available to us. It seems very easy to go down the wrong track with these issues as there is no way to verify the information so, I ususally look at the life and lifestyle of people giving me information and ask does it help or hurt? I think that comes from my experience somehow. I know that sounds fuzzy but I was more gullable before I think somehow less open too.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes

Some people are comforted also by the experience. The closer people are to me often the less interested they are. My freind who had experienced an NDE during childbirth was relieved that her experience was considered real by someone else. Another freind who had experienced an out of body experience during preperations for her brothers funeral recently was immensly relieved by our discussion. I feel that it's very difficult to discuss with some people and I don't bring it up unless I think it may be of assistance. It is also precious to me and I keep it close.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  I felt stronger and more able to get through this difficult period of my life. I could pass on some of that love and peace to my husband and children and keep things calm with a strong feeling that everything would turn out OK and it did!

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The very best part was not feeling so alone.There wasn't a worst part except it didn't go on forever. The improved ability to function and be of use to my family was terribly important and that time.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No

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

As I went through the questionnaire I remembered pertinent surrounding events I may otherwise have left out.

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    I found that I was repeating myself a little on a few of the questions but apart from that it was great, THANK YOU