Brushes with Death

[Vern5]

So today I was in a car accident. I rear-ended a van while doing around 50 mph on the highway. Thankfully, everyone involved was okay with only front of my truck folding up like a lawn chair. I'm still a little sore but I'm alive.

While getting my truck towed, I got to see several other accidents on the way. Some of them were mere fender benders like mine. One of them was a serious wreck (the holidays bring out the worst traffic).

I saw a man getting loaded into an ambulance and it occurred to me that my little accident could have been infinitely worse. I didn't see my life flash before my eyes or anything like that but it did give me a very solid reappreciation(?) for my fortunes. Even during bad times, there's always someone else who's worse off.

Has anyone else had moments like this? Brushes with death? Sudden revaluations of your life?

 

[DugMachine]

I almost got T-boned by a semi truck a few years back. I JUST go out of the way. This crazy asshole wasn't stopping for the red light so it wouldn't have been my fault but I'm sure I'd be dead.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I got into a similar car wreck to the OP not too long ago. My car, being the piece of crap it was, wouldn't stop when I trend to stop, and I wound up UNDER the car in front of me. That car was a fucking Ford Taurus. I went UNDER a Ford Taurus. Lost my car because of it, and I'm currently contending with a bunch of legal bullcrap to try and keep my license. Not fun. So kids, whatever you do, do NOT get a poorly maintained 1993 Saturn SW with stripped tires, missing interior paneling, ABS that doesn't work, and a metal support bar jutting out of the driver's seat, because that's a bad idea!

 

[Spoonius]

Nearly drowned when I was a little kid. My 'friend' pushed me into the deep end of his pool as a prank, and even though he was a good swimmer I was useless (grade two or something).

I panicked, and only just managed to catch the edge of the pool with my fingertips after about half a minute of flailing around blindly underwater, right as I was about to run out of breath. I pulled myself out with all my strength and then just sat down and started crying uncontrollably.

I was so scared and exhausted, yet my mate just kept laughing, he didn't understand what the fuck he'd nearly done... :/

 

[SomeLameStuff]

When I was a toddler, I was noticed by 2 vicious dogs, if I hadn't run away from them, I would definitely have been killed.

The dogs stopped because I was noticed by the owner (Who wouldn't have saw me if I had been running away) and he stopped the dogs instantly.

I never saw dogs in a positive light for a long time.

Well, now we know why you're a cat person.

OT: Nearly drowned on three occasions. The first was when my sister grabbed my float board away from me. Second was when I fell into a really deep pool. (Fun fact, my aunt was standing near the edge of said pool, screaming "Help him! Help him!" when she could have just leaned over and grabbed me.)

Third was when my canoe capsized, and my mates accidentally clocked me on the head when they rowed over to pull me out. Passing out in a murky lake without a life jacket is not a good thing to happen.

And those are just my drowning close-death moments. I don't swim now, in case you were wondering.

 

[White Lightning]

When I was a toddler, I was noticed by 2 vicious dogs, if I hadn't run away from them, I would definitely have been killed.

The dogs stopped because I was noticed by the owner (Who wouldn't have saw me if I had been running away) and he stopped the dogs instantly.

I never saw dogs in a positive light for a long time.

Woah that's really... WAIT A SECOND! Something doesn't check out here. You said you ran away from the Dogs, however you ALSO said that the Dogs owner WOULDN'T of seen you if you had been running, so that means the ony way he would of seen you is if you WEREN'T running.

 

[DevilWithaHalo]

Brush with death? Sure. I ride a motorcycle after all. Anyone who rides will tell you people are out to kill you.

 

[Savo]

I'm not sure if I would have died from this, but I'll post it anyway. I was in another city that I rarely visit and this was my first time driving there myself. So, I see this turn coming up. The speed sign says "10 MPH" on this curve and I laugh and only brake somewhat because in my experience you can take any turn at about triple the recommended speed and still make it without even trying.

See, the road curves around a good ways. From where I was, I was completely not seeing exactly HOW far it curved around, so I kept most of my speed. As soon as I entered it, I realized OH SHIT THIS IS ONE HELL OF A TURN. I immediately start going straight towards the concrete wall at about 30-40 mph and immediately slam my wheel as fast as I can to the right. That's when I lost control of my car and could feel the car sliding like hell (it was also hella slippery from rain). I somehow drifted around the corner and immediately started speeding toward the opposite curb, which I promptly responded by slamming my wheel to the left.

I somehow don't hit the curb and only slightly bump it with my tire. I was shaking all over for a while afterwards.

The lesson I learned from this: Never EVER assume a turn is easy unless you've taken it before. You never know when they are just kidding with the speed signs or when they're actually serious. I hate that it happened, but I can just thank my lucky stars that I'm alright and now know to be more careful in the future.

 

[Akimoto]

Not sure if this counts, but my parents told me of the time when I choked so hard on a large grape (greedy bugger that I was) I turned purple. No idea which pipe it went down though.

After that I have lived a relatively calm and normal life even in the army.

 

[Little Woodsman]

Had a few. Most interesting one was probably about 21 years ago. I was walking home at about
9am on a Sunday--no people around--when I noticed something seemed a little odd about the
neighborhood. I realized that all of the back yards that normally had dogs in them were
sans canines. Turns out some asshat the previous night thought that it would be hilarious
to open the gates on all the fenced back yards with dogs. So once the dogs all had a chance
to discover their freedom, they got together in a pack and started roaming the neighborhood.
Now I love doggies and get along well with them, but when they are in that sort of situation
their mentality changes. The dog pack spotted me and charged at me, and I had no-where to
run to. There was a wooden fence behind me, too tall to jump, I could have climbed it given
time but the dogs would have pulled me down before I got over. All I could do was put my back
to the fence and shout "DOWN SIR DOWN!" at the dogs as they formed a semicircle around me.
They kept barking at me and getting closer, and all I could do was shout at whichever one
was closest (the farthest one was about 3 feet from me, the closest ones only inches away).
Eventually one--a collie--was either scared enough from my shouting or from some other
motivation broke formation and ran off. Most of the others followed the collie pretty quickly,
but the largest one--a big black mixed breed of some kind--stayed and growled at me until
the others were almost out of sight, then ran to catch up with them. I still get a little
shaky when I think about it, being bitten to death by a dog pack would NOT be a fun way to
go.

TLDR;Surrounded by six dogs that had formed a temporary pack.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Brush with death? Sure. I ride a motorcycle after all. Anyone who rides will tell you people are out to kill you.

I ride a bicycle, and I can absolutely attest to this statement's accuracy.

OT: Almost tripped off a bridge in Cambodia when I was little (~7). I caught the rope with my arm and was hanging off the edge. There were people already there of course, but that arm was still crucial. Funny, I don't feel motivated to seize every moment. I thought that was meant to happen with near-death experiences.

 

[Kielgasten]

Brush with death? Sure. I ride a motorcycle after all. Anyone who rides will tell you people are out to kill you.

This! So much this...
Not going to get into too much detail, but car drivers: Pay attention to motorcyclists when making right turns!

 

[Mordekaien]

5 years ago, a drunk guy pulled a gun to my head and started screaming if I want to die. That was not pleasant, I tell you.

 

[Semudara]

Brush with death? Sure. I ride a motorcycle after all. Anyone who rides will tell you people are out to kill you.

Funny, I don't feel motivated to seize every moment. I thought that was meant to happen with near-death experiences.

Yeah, the effect tends to wear off pretty quickly. It's a damn shame.

I guess seizing EVERY moment could get pretty exhausting, though. XD

 

[Sangnz]

Yep
About 15 years back driving home late at night, some moron (not even drunk) doesn't stop at giveway sign ended up in a head on collision.

Fractured skull from face impacting on the steering wheel
Punched a hole in my lower lip
Broken collar bone (right side)
Fractured ribs
Left wrist broken in 2 places
Smashed left kneecap into so many bits it had to be removed.

2 Weeks in hospital
5 Months before I could walk normally.

If my face had hit the steering wheel one inch higher I probably would have lost my left eye.
If I didn't have my seat belt on I would be dead.

Good story to tell

 

[notanaccount]

I once fell down a hill and came out with many injuries, mostly cuts and some large gashes. When I was younger I nearly drowned, it wasn't fun.

 

[alandavidson]

Yeah, death seems to be out to get me.

A few years back I was in Guatemala for a karate tournament. We had to walk a mile alongside the highway in Guatemala City from the guest home to the tournament location. One day, on the trek back, we saw a lady from our team on the other side of the highway, yelling something.

Keep in mind that this is a six-lane highway and anyone who lives or has spent time in Central America knows that "crazy rush-hour traffic" takes on a new meaning. I was the one who volunteered to cross the highway and see what it was she was going on about. My view was obscured, but a semi driver on the roadway motioned to me that it was all clear to run, so I did.

About two lanes from making it to the other side, out of the corner of my eye I saw a little green car traveling around 55 miles per hour, and there was no way I could dodge it. The only thing that I could think to do was jump.

Jumping is what saved my life, because I landed on the hood, slid across, landed on my feet and kept running. It's absolutely amazing what training, adrenaline, and your brain and body going nuts to keep you alive does.



I've had quite a few experiences like that, especially now that I do a lot of stunt work and things can go very, very wrong at times. But maybe those are stories for another day.

 

[Mr F.]

Half fell asleep whilst walking home once, tripped and narrowly avoided getting hit by a truck. I remember a sudden wall of noise as the dude lent on the horn.

Been in a car crash. It was... Interesting. And my sister almost died.

Uh...

Going down the Dubai - Al Ain highway before they started properly regulating speed limits, that counts as a near death experience because fucking maniacs drive at fucking crazy speeds in fucking huge cars before plowing them into walls.

I think that will do.