Vietnam Vet NDEr - Steve Gardipee
What Researchers Found
The Story
Steve Gardipe was a U.S. Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam. His near-death experience happened on July 28, 1970, when his helicopter was shot down over an enemy base camp. He suffered severe injuries, including a severed Achilles tendon, bullets through his leg and arm, and his left forearm nearly blown off. During the NDE, Steve's vision blurred to gray and black. He left his body and saw himself from 10-15 feet above, with his head by a bush. A black speck expanded into a bubble of enhanced perception, where he saw plant cells and molecules. Brightness grew into a super bright light he felt as God's love. He sensed God's presence surrounding him. His consciousness expanded into the cosmos, feeling complete and powerful. God showed him as a premature baby and humbled him. God said he was not ready and sent him back through a tunnel of love. Demons tried to grab him, but God's love protected him. After the NDE, Steve's view of God changed from vengeful to loving and forgiving. He felt instantly forgiven and now shares his story to help others glimpse heaven's love and goodness.
“beautiful light it was a tunnel of love i went through this tunnel of love back”
The account features a severe medical crisis with massive blood loss and unconsciousness, paired with a classic OBE claim from 10-15 feet above the body noting the head's position by a specific bush used for orientation. However, evidential strength is limited by the complete lack of any verification attempts, confirmed perceptions, or timely reporting to witnesses, rendering it reliant on an unverified self-perception.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.
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These accounts were gathered because death may not be the end. Thousands of people have experienced something beyond — and come back to tell us about it.
What Researchers Found
The account features a severe medical crisis with massive blood loss and unconsciousness, paired with a classic OBE claim from 10-15 feet above the body noting the head's position by a specific bush used for orientation. However, evidential strength is limited by the complete lack of any verification attempts, confirmed perceptions, or timely reporting to witnesses, rendering it reliant on an unverified self-perception.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.