{"id":16922,"date":"2015-05-20T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-20T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=16922"},"modified":"2015-05-20T23:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-05-20T23:00:00","slug":"2015-05-21-learning-from-a-neardeath-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/2015-05-21-learning-from-a-neardeath-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning from a Near-Death Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Al<\/p>\n

I had a Near Death Experience. It\u2019s scary. You face death. The Grim Reaper stands up, his scythe held high preparing to sweep down and take you to the afterlife. Then, somehow, in some way you don\u2019t quite understand, in an instance you\u2019re clutched from his grasp and returned to humanity.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

My Near Death Experience was different to most. All Near Death Experiences are different \u2013 I understand that. They\u2019re all unique to the individual. But mine was still different.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Near Death Experiences normally involve the heart stopping, a catastrophic accident, a cardiac arrest. Mine was none of those.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I prefer to refer to it as a Certain Death Experience. I didn\u2019t have a close call. I didn\u2019t have a near miss. I knew, without any doubt whatsoever, that I was about to die. This was it. In a few seconds life would be over. It was too late to do anything about it. I was dead. And yet, somehow, I survived.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Many of the Near Death Experience enthusiasts (they refer to it as NDE) will say that I didn\u2019t have a NDE. Maybe they\u2019re right. Maybe this doesn\u2019t fall into the technical NDE category \u2013 although I do have a decent score on the Greyson NDE scale<\/a>. To me, that\u2019s not important. It\u2019s not important how we choose to categorize this occurrence. Maybe it\u2019s a Near Death Experience, maybe it\u2019s a Certain Death Experience, maybe it\u2019s none of these. More importantly it\u2019s about what happened and what can be learned from it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#The Jump<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I was wingsuit BASE jumping in Switzerland. I was fairly current, flying a line that went hard left from the exit allowing me to almost immediately connect and fly tightly with the cliff face. This video shows a jump flying the left line:<\/p>\n

Raw footage of a wingsuit proximity jump in my Tonysuits Scorpion wingsuit flying a hard left line before disconnecting, opening up and landing to be greeted by a kiss from my dog, Scooter.<\/a><\/p>\n

In this instance I had decided to fly to the right, changing things up a bit.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Heading right is a safe line to take but just not as exciting. I exited, flew for a bit and then decided to carve back left and over towards the landing area. So far the flight was uneventful. My jumps had been going well, without even the most minor of incidents and, while still flying, I decided to open up a little lower than normal \u2013 why not keep things exciting when everything had been going so well anyway?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I confidently passed through my regular opening altitude, cruised on a bit further and then initiated my deployment sequence. This is where it all went wrong.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#The Miss<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I had a missed pull. I was low. I needed to react fast. My heart rate increased. If I didn\u2019t react immediately this would be certain death.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I had trained for this. I reacted instinctively. My arm came back out before retrying. I could feel the toggle of my pilot chute. It was there. My hand was in the right place. But I was feeling it through the fabric of the arm wing of my wingsuit.\u00a0There was no possible way I could deploy my parachute in that configuration.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I felt panic start to creep in. I had passed through my regular opening altitude. My pull sequence had failed \u2013 twice. I was seconds from impact.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#Certain Death<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Everything slowed down. Actually, that\u2019s not true. My mind accelerated. I was processing everything incredibly fast. The panic was seeping through yet I felt, somehow, at peace. I was being consumed by the moment.
\nAt this point, I knew I was dead. It was too late. Nothing I could do would change that. I started to understand, as a feeling of peace, calmness and serenity washed over me. Interestingly, there was still an element of panic somewhere there despite this new found tranquility. I felt happy. I felt whole. I felt that I knew what life was about. I understood.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I knew, without any doubt whatsoever, that I was about to die. This was it. In a few seconds life would be over.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

All of this happened in the space of about one second. Yet, I feel like I experienced this phase for minutes, or more. And then it happened.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It was then that I made my decision. I could accept my fate. I could succumb to this paradisiacal\u00a0utopia, this bliss. Or I could choose to live.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not quite true. I knew I was dead. But I could choose to try. I could choose to fight. I could choose to give everything I had despite knowing that it was hopeless.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

#The Fight<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It was hopeless but I had nothing to lose.\u00a0I chose to fight. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It was tough. These was a huge part of me that wanted to remain in this blissful peace. The tranquility was almost overwhelming. It took everything I had to fight, to withdraw from this trance. But I chose to fight and I was going to make it happen.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I kept trying. That sounds like a I fought for a long time. It felt like it. In truth it was probably less than a second. But I had made this conscious decision to fight and I was doing it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I reached again. The toggle of my pilot chute was there. I pitched. The deployment sequence started. I knew it was too late. But I kept fighting. I kept flying hard \u2013 I knew the speed would give me lift, slowing my vertical descent rate and provide additional airspeed to increase the deployment speed.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I was fighting. Doing everything I could. I knew it was too late but I was going to fight for my life. I might get to line stretch but there was no way there was time for anything more. No time for the canopy fabric to actually inflate. I would impact at high speed. Maybe the deployment would slow me to a state where my body wouldn\u2019t be totally obliterated. A skilled embalmer could piece me back together enough for my family to pay their last wishes without being permanently scarred by the sight of my severely mutilated corpse.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Smack. It happened. The canopy inflated. I felt it \u2013 bottom skin inflation quickly followed by top skin inflation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Smack. I hit. I landed. I hadn\u2019t had time to unzip the arms of my wingsuit. My canopy ride was short \u2013 seriously short.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

My heart raced. This wasn\u2019t a close call. This wasn\u2019t one of those times when you almost got run over by a car or flew too tight to a ledge \u2013 one of those times when you had a near miss and the realization happens after the event. This was a certain death experience. I was dead. It was too late. Yet somehow I survived. Because I fought for it.<\/p>\n

\"Alastair<\/p>\n

#The Lessons<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve spent time reflecting on this certain death experience \u2013 it forces you to. Here are the 10 lessons I learned, most of which can be applied to everyday life:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

##1. Stick To The Plan<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I had a plan but I didn\u2019t stick to it. I changed the plan after exit, while flying, and went through my hard deck. This was a clearly thought out decision. There have been a number of good pilots that have died having changed their plan after exit. Flexibility is good but there are times to change a plan and times to stick to it. Know when they are and stick to them \u2013 no matter what. Decisions made in the moment don\u2019t give you the opportunity for full consideration.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

##2. Risk<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I had a personal hard deck \u2013 a height above the ground that I would be open by. This provides me with a margin for error. By flying through my hard deck I compromised this. I removed my safety margin yet had failed to eliminate the possibility of an error occurring \u2013 the margin was still required. I was negligent. The previous jumps had all gone well \u2013 19 out of 20 were great. But that means that 1 in 20 might not be so great. That\u2019s not good odds, particularly when the consequences can be catastrophic. I\u2019m normally pretty good at mitigating risk. In this case, by not sticking to the plan, I hadn\u2019t evaluated or understood the risks fully. If you\u2019re going to do something that involves risk, make sure you understand it, mitigate it and accept it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I removed my safety margin yet had failed to eliminate the possibility of an error occurring <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

##3. Rehearse<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I had rehearsed a missed pull scenario many times. I had rehearsed a lot of scenarios. I had practiced with gear on, with it off. I had visualized \u2013 a lot. I knew the range of scenarios that I could face and had prepared for them. Not only did I understand what could go wrong and the actions I would need to take but I had rehearsed them enough to make them instinctive. When things go wrong, they often go wrong quickly and time is of the essence. Drilling these scenarios again and again and again and again had made them instinctive. In this instance, fractions of a second made the difference between life and death. If I hadn\u2019t rehearsed so much I would certainly be dead. It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re planning a business deal, driving to pick your kids up from school or about\u00a0to leap off a mountain, work out what can go wrong, what actions you will need to take and then rehearse them, a lot.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

##4. Experience<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I had a fair bit of experience when this happened with over\u00a06,000 skydives and more than 500 BASE jumps. I was current. Yet I got complacent. I made a mistake. Experience really helps but it can also be an enemy. Know when it\u2019s an asset and when it isn\u2019t. Experience lets complacency slowly, gradually, seep into your mentality. You won\u2019t realize it at first. Slowly, it will creep in further and further until it\u2019s sitting comfortably within your routine. Then, without warning, it will jump up and bite. If you\u2019re lucky it will be a gentle bite \u2013 maybe just dragging your ego down a few notches. If you\u2019re unlucky it will be\u00a0catastrophic. Develop self-awareness to know when you\u2019re in this zone and take a step back. Understand your experience levels and hold complacency back.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Experience lets complacency slowly, gradually, seep into your mentality. Slowly, it will creep in further and further until it\u2019s sitting comfortably within your routine. Then, without warning, it will jump up and bite. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

##5. It Can Happen To You<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I was pretty good. I thought I was. Some friends had told me that too. I wasn\u2019t one of those people that made serious mistakes. I was a good judge of my ability. Mistakes, errors, incidents all happen to other people.\u00a0Or do they?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It happened to me. This incident, the incident that happens to other people less skilled, less current, less experienced, just happened to me. It doesn\u2019t matter who you are or what it is, it can happen to you.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

##6. Fight<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I chose to fight. I knew it was hopeless. It took everything I had to click out of the blissful utopian mental state of acceptance that was engulfing me. Somehow, I managed it \u2013 I don\u2019t really know what I did to break out, but I did. I\u2019d love to say it was mental toughness, agility, strength. The reality is, I don\u2019t know. Probably none of those. But I broke out and I chose. I chose to fight. To continue to try. To try to succeed. To try to live. No matter how hard something is, no matter how much the odds are stacked against you, there\u2019s still a chance. You can\u2019t succeed if you don\u2019t fight. Try. No matter what. Try. And fight like your life depends on it \u2013 one day it might.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

##7.\u00a0Questioning<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When your life flashes before your eyes (this didn\u2019t actually happen to me but I think you get my point) you start to question. Are the risks worth it? Am I living the life I want to live? Am I setting the life priorities that I, not someone else, have chosen? These reflections on our past and future considerations shouldn\u2019t need a Near Death Experience or other potentially life changing event. We should periodically be asking these questions, other questions, all sorts of questions. Question what you do, why you do it, who you are. Keep questioning.<\/p>\n

\"Alastair<\/p>\n

##8. Treasure<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When you know that life could have just come to an abrupt end, you start to appreciate, you start to treasure. You treasure things you might not have before, that perhaps you overlooked, glossed over, in your every day busy life. Your senses increase, they heighten. You become aware. You become aware of the beauty of the grass swaying in the breeze, of the sweet rustling of the leaves rolling down the gutter, of the taste of the rain pattering outside (yes, you really can taste it). Embrace these moments in your life. Embrace all moments in your life. You might never experience them again. You might experience them many times over. It doesn\u2019t matter. There\u2019s beauty in everything. Embrace it now. Treasure it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

##9. Breathe<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Life, particularly in the western world, is busy. Often hectic. My certain death experience was busy. It was hectic. It happened fast. Yet, amongst it, I found peace and serenity. No matter how busy you are, how hectic your life is, how upside down it might seem, you can always find peace and serenity if you try hard enough. Breathe. Find yours.<\/p>\n

\"Alastair<\/p>\n

##10. Live Like it\u2019s your Last Day on Earth<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You never know. It could be your last. It might not be. But it might be. Treat everyone with the respect you would if it were your last day \u2013 I write more about this in my latest book. Kiss your spouse, hold the door open for someone, call your parents and tell them you love them, donate to charity, take out the trash. Do the good deeds you wish you could do for people when you\u2019re no longer here.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019m lucky. I got a second chance.\u00a0Maybe you\u2019ll get a second chance \u2013 I hope so. Learn from my mistakes and avoid making such a catastrophic one yourself.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Good luck<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I had a Near Death Experience. It\u2019s scary. You face death. The Grim Reaper stands up, his scythe held high preparing to sweep down and take you to the afterlife. Then, somehow, in some way you don\u2019t quite understand, in an instance you\u2019re clutched from his grasp and returned to humanity. My Near Death Experience […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLearning from a Near-Death Experience - Skydivemag<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/2015-05-21-learning-from-a-neardeath-experience\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Learning from a Near-Death Experience\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I had a Near Death Experience. It\u2019s scary. You face death. The Grim Reaper stands up, his scythe held high preparing to sweep down and take you to the afterlife. Then, somehow, in some way you don\u2019t quite understand, in an instance you\u2019re clutched from his grasp and returned to humanity. 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