Near-death experiences aren’t uncommon yet they often make a profound impact. For example, Andy Petro almost drowned in 1955 and has never forgotten the experience. In fact, it’s impacted his life so much that he was inspired to write a book.
Andy Petro’s Near Death Experience
Andy Petro was enjoying a lakeside picnic in Michigan with his friends from high school. He and his friends were days away from their high school graduation and were blowing off some steam and playing around by the water. Fearing the cold, Andy decided rather than taking his time to get acclimated, he would jump straight in.
Unfortunately, he got a pain in his abdomen and quickly lost function in his legs. As a result, he began to panic, unable to move, and started choking. He fell further down into the cold water and hit “weeds” on the lakebed.
Recalling the Events
“Everything is screaming in my body, I’m dying, I finally admit that I’m dying and then all of a sudden there’s a voice in my head. I don’t know who the voice is, but it says, ‘Andy you need to stop it and rest for a while’,” he recalled in an interview.
While his initial thought was to panic, a voice inside his head had other plans for his near death experience. The voice said: “Andy, you really need to rest, relax and let go. You need to let go.” Andy noted that the voice had “promised” that everything would be okay.
“Filled with Love”
“At one point I’m in my body, the next point I’m in this tunnel… and I’m warm, I’m happy, I can breathe again, I’m filled with joy and unconditional love. It was such a change from complete terror to complete ecstasy.”
Out of Body Moment
Andy went on to explain that he had an out of body moment, looking down and seeing his body at the bottom of the lake. Purportedly, he “didn’t care about his life or being on earth.” Instead, his near death experience led him to an understanding that he “was home.”
“The moment I let go, I popped out of my body,” he explained.
“Motion Pictures”
He then saw a bright light coming from the other direction which drew him in “like a magnet.”
“All of a sudden, I’m no longer in the tunnel, I’m in the middle of a giant sphere… and around it are little motion picture screens of all of my lives of all the things that I’m doing,” he said of the near death experience.
Clarity During a Near Death Experience
“Nothing was confusing, I could understand all the lifetimes. When I focused on one particular screen I would relive it,” he added.
Interestingly, Andy’s next few moments were ethereal, giving him peace during his near death experience. He explained hearing another voice saying:
‘Andy, I love you’, followed by another voice that said, ‘Andy, we love you’.
“There are thousands and millions and trillions of other lights just like me.”
Continuing His Story
Andy continued to share his near death experience.
“I was a piece of the light and it’s the most fantastic feeling as a human that I could ever imagine,” he stated. “I knew everything, there was nothing I did not know.”
A Sense of Humor
Andy explained that the light and voices had a sense of humor, asking him questions like why he didn’t have more fun while he was on Earth? “You were only going to be there a little while because it’s not real, Earth life is not real, it’s like a play, a movie,” the voice told him according to LADBible. “There’s eight million actors on the planet and they’re all playing a role. Once the costumes have gone and the play is over and you’re back in the light, we’re all one, we’re all the same, we’re made out of the same stuff.”
Near Death Experience Impacts Time
Andy said it seemed like he was there for months but really, he’d only been in the water for 10-15 minutes. “I’m still waiting to get back home. I’m doing the best I can to feel joy whenever possible. What I’m choosing to do is help people feel better about themselves and help get them to know that there is a home, I’ve been there and I’m ready to go back,” he concluded.
A Near Death Experience Inspires Books
During his near death experience, Andy learned many things about life. However, he didn’t share his experience with others until 30 years later. He decided to write a book about his near death experience, and a second book followed. “Alive in the Light: Remembering the Light and Eternity” and “Remembering the Light Through Poetry,” cover Andy’s incredible story and near death experience.
Lessons from a Near Death Experience
His revelation is a fascinating take on the afterlife but many people have had a near death experience, sharing interesting wisdom with others. Here are some of the most common, and valuable bits of knowledge, according to a document published in the digital library include:
- Don’t fear death.
- Follow some religious or spiritual path.
- Appreciate life’s joys and blessings.
- Love others.
- Provide comfort and support to others.
- Social position or wealth are far less meaningful than relationships.
An Alternate Explanation
Interestingly, according to Scientific American, a near death experience can shed light on how the brain functions in “extreme conditions.” Reports of these experiences are similar from person to person. Nearly all report being “pain-free” and seeing a bright light. Some people report encounters with deceased loved ones, others report encounters with spiritual beings or guides. Purportedly, there’s a logical explanation. “There are some underlying physiological explanations for these perceptions, such as progressively narrowing tunnel vision,” the paper explains. “Reduced blood flow to the visual periphery of the retina means vision loss occurs there first.”