I was body surfing at the coast near San Diego, California. My brother was some distance to my left, out of range of hearing but I was able to see him. I think I was caught in the undertow and pulled under the water. I was unable to get back to the surface and struggled in a panic to get there. I swallowed a lot of water in this period of struggle.

Suddenly I was aware that there was no sound, like when your ears pop but magnified. There was light, but I believe it was the sunlight hitting the water above me. I began to get very warm and sleepy. I stopped struggling and thought about my brother and that he wouldn't be able to find me. Then I decided that I would take a nap and figure out how to get out of this predicament when I woke up.

I closed my eyes and felt warm and sleepy then dozed off for the shortest possible second. Suddenly I was thrust up and out of the water. I discovered that I was only chest high in the water and clambered up onto the beach. I vomited several times and collapsed, shaking and trying to breathe.

At the time I was very shaken. I had mixed feelings. I had felt so comfortable until I was thrown up and out of the water. Then my throat and stomach hurt very badly and my muscles were achy for the rest of the afternoon. Since then I have not been fearful of death. I don't feel there was anything terribly religious or spiritual that I took away from the experience except for finding near death to be very peaceful and not frightening (once I knew it was coming).