Thread: I see white light........phew,nice dodge.

I've posted a lot on that before.

Here's one:

I was in Venice Beach, California hanging out with a friend (Mark, whom I have know since I was 8 years old). There is a pipe that runs out from the beach about 150 feet or so. At the end of that pipe is a breaker wall that is about 100 feet long (the purpose of the wall is to minimize erosion of the beach due to wave action). I started to walk along the pipe to the wall when a lifeguard yelled out to me that I wasn't allowed to walk on the pipe. I said OK and walked back. Determined to get out to the wall, I decided to swim out to one end of the wall. I was about half way there when I heard the same life guard telling me (though a bull-horn) that I wasn't allowed to swim around there. So, with a sigh, I turned back and started to swim back towards the shore. It was then that I realized that I was caught in a riptide. Back then I didn't know that the proper way to get out of a riptide was to swim parallel to the shore. I yelled out to the lifeguard for help. He just continued to tell me to return to the shore. I went under several times and still the moron would not get out of his truck. So the next time the riptide pulled me down I continued down to the bottom. Using my hands as spikes, I stabbed them into the mud on the ocean floor and proceeded to move towards the shore. I'm not sure how long I was under, but my lungs started to burn. I eventually pulled myself up onto the shore. I coughed up a little seawater, just for fun. The lifeguard drove over and said, "You're not allowed to swim there". I could barely breath, but I looked up at him and said, "I'm...going...to...fuck...ing...kill...you." and tried to get up. He just looked at me with a startled expression and then drove off.

Originally Posted by DOMS

I've posted a lot on that before.

Here's one:

I was in Venice Beach, California hanging out with a friend (Mark, whom I have know since I was 8 years old). There is a pipe that runs out from the beach about 150 feet or so. At the end of that pipe is a breaker wall that is about 100 feet long (the purpose of the wall is to minimize erosion of the beach due to wave action). I started to walk along the pipe to the wall when a lifeguard yelled out to me that I wasn't allowed to walk on the pipe. I said OK and walked back. Determined to get out to the wall, I decided to swim out to one end of the wall. I was about half way there when I heard the same life guard telling me (though a bull-horn) that I wasn't allowed to swim around there. So, with a sigh, I turned back and started to swim back towards the shore. It was then that I realized that I was caught in a riptide. Back then I didn't know that the proper way to get out of a riptide was to swim parallel to the shore. I yelled out to the lifeguard for help. He just continued to tell me to return to the shore. I went under several times and still the moron would not get out of his truck. So the next time the riptide pulled me down I continued down to the bottom. Using my hands as spikes, I stabbed them into the mud on the ocean floor and proceeded to move towards the shore. I'm not sure how long I was under, but my lungs started to burn. I eventually pulled myself up onto the shore. I coughed up a little seawater, just for fun. The lifeguard drove over and said, "You're not allowed to swim there". I could barely breath, but I looked up at him and said, "I'm...going...to...fuck...ing...kill...you." and tried to get up. He just looked at me with a startled expression and then drove off.

Rip tides are very evil things, that's pretty frightening.
I had a similar one in a cave in Asia about 5 years ago. I was in a river cave with a helmet torch and inflatable ring. I ventured in pretty deep into this cave, you were only meant to go so far, but i unwittingly ventured into a 'off-limits' section and got into the water and paddled along for a while, in awe of the roof formations etc... It was then my torch light went out. I was in pitch dark, and the current pulled me further in, in the slow onset of panic I fell out of the inflatable, and could not get back into because of the current and the confined space between two jagged walls. I was fighting hard to stay above water, all the time getting cut to pieces on the jagged walls. At this point I was really panicking. Luckily I heard, far of faint voices and dragged myself along the rock towards them. After what seemed an age, I felt rock in front of me and climbed up to find myself at the start of the 'off limits' section (ironically noticing the tiny sign - i'd missed earlier). I found my way out, to find out I'd been in there for 2 1/2 hours. My arms, and back were shredded, but I was just glad to escape, absolutely exhausted, but the rage inside now had compelled me to try and attack the asian vendor who'd supplied the rental torch, I was held back by 3 others.

Rip tide almost got me too when I was about 6, my dad swam out and got me.

Fukcing riptides.

the first thing i thought of before reading anyones post was the same breakwall that DOMS was talking about. LOL. I was standing on top the rocks when some rogue waves started crashing hard. I tried to get off the rocks so fast. These were big ones (for SoCal atleast). There was no way i was gonna make it in time so I jumped for it, but the wave got me and smashed me right into the rocks. I swear i seen the light, all my memories went zipping thru my head. Then i gained concious again and high tailed it out of there.

I fell asleep at the wheel and drove off the side of a bridge at between 70-80 mph. The bridge rail ripped the bottom of my floorboard out and the impact when my car hit the creek bottom knocked me unconscious. I was knocked out from 10:00pm to 6:00am the next day. My car flew 70 feet through the air and hit just right on the creeks edge which made my car be flipped and rolled back onto its wheels in the creek. The creek was mostly dry, but mud came into my car through the floor board. When I woke up, I was waste deep in mud. All I got was a sprain ankle. The police the responded said I had no business walking away from that.

Riding my dirt bike by a bayou in Houston at full speed following my friend, we were on a path we'd traveled several times before. But it had rained really hard the last couple weeks and some wash out holes had appeared out of no where. i wasn't aware that we were coming up on one, my friend had taken an outside line so I thought I'd cut him of by going inside......bad mistake all of the sudden I see the ground open up right before me, I hit both my front brakes and rear brakes slid right over the hole where I stopped in mid air Wiley Coyote style, I then dropped straight down into this 7-8 foot hole. I could hear my friends bike moving farther away and thought "Fuck that bastards going to just leave me here." I leaned my bike against the sidewall of the hole, stood on the seat and climbed out....I saw my friend heading back. He said he turned around and didn't see me and wondered where I went. I jumped back in the hole started my bike revved it and popped the clutch forcing it into a wheelie, then my friend grabbend the front tire and pulled while I pushed, then half way out I hand cranked the kickstart and he slowly gassed it using the engine to push the bike the rest of the way out....luckily he carried a tow rope with him and i climbed out with that. If I hadn't have been paying attention hitting that hole at full speed would have really caused some damage to me, my front end probably would have dropped in and my head would have hit the edge of the hole breaking my neck....

One night while sleeping over at my friend Rats house we were awoken by the sounds of gunshots, I dropped off the bed onto the floor and waited, then rat came in, I was sleeping in his sister who was in college's room. We got up and realized there was a bullet hole in the window, we turned at the same moment following the path and saw a splintered section of the door frame which was four feet up and six inches over from where my head had been lying. That was only about 4 months after my step-sisters disgruntled ex-bf had shot 3 .22 rounds into the roof of our house while we were home.......anyway coe to find out the shots on my friend Rats house were meant for his neighbors who was a member of the Latin Kings.....a kid i had known since fifth grade, a kid who I used to sit with at lunch and now he pretended he didn't even know me......gangs really fuck people up....

Originally Posted by goob

Rip tides are very evil things, that's pretty frightening.
I had a similar one in a cave in Asia about 5 years ago. I was in a river cave with a helmet torch and inflatable ring. I ventured in pretty deep into this cave, you were only meant to go so far, but i unwittingly ventured into a 'off-limits' section and got into the water and paddled along for a while, in awe of the roof formations etc... It was then my torch light went out. I was in pitch dark, and the current pulled me further in, in the slow onset of panic I fell out of the inflatable, and could not get back into because of the current and the confined space between two jagged walls. I was fighting hard to stay above water, all the time getting cut to pieces on the jagged walls. At this point I was really panicking. Luckily I heard, far of faint voices and dragged myself along the rock towards them. After what seemed an age, I felt rock in front of me and climbed up to find myself at the start of the 'off limits' section (ironically noticing the tiny sign - i'd missed earlier). I found my way out, to find out I'd been in there for 2 1/2 hours. My arms, and back were shredded, but I was just glad to escape, absolutely exhausted, but the rage inside now had compelled me to try and attack the asian vendor who'd supplied the rental torch, I was held back by 3 others.

Damn that's crazy!

You panic must have been complete. Once while I spelunking, for shits and giggles, I turned off my light and traveled though the cave for an hour. If I didn't know that I could just turn on my light back on, I'd have lost my mind. The fun part was scaring a girl so bad I think she pissed herself.

Originally Posted by KelJu

I fell asleep at the wheel and drove off the side of a bridge at between 70-80 mph. The bridge rail ripped the bottom of my floorboard out and the impact when my car hit the creek bottom knocked me unconscious. I was knocked out from 10:00pm to 6:00am the next day. My car flew 70 feet through the air and hit just right on the creeks edge which made my car be flipped and rolled back onto its wheels in the creek. The creek was mostly dry, but mud came into my car through the floor board. When I woke up, I was waste deep in mud. All I got was a sprain ankle. The police the responded said I had no business walking away from that.

Again, no where near as bad as yours:

I was driving from Mesa, Arizona to Las Vegas. I had worked for 18 hours before I left. I was driving about an hour out of Mesa though a curve; the next thing I know, I'm pulling up to the checkpoint at the California border. I had to have been asleep for an hour or so.

This one time I was walking down the sidewalk and I almost slipped on a banana peel...


True Story

Another of mine:

About three years ago I was hiking in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I heard it was dangerous, but it's a great place to catch some nature. Which, by the way, if funny because I'm a city boy who usually hates nature.

I was about and hour and half into my hike. I was listening to my MP3 player and getting a good workout. The sky was clear and the temperature was in the mid 80s with a slight breeze that made the day perfect. One of those perfect blue summer days.

I was walking along a crescent shaped ridge of rock. I felt the ground tremble. I'm from Burbank, California, so I know what an earthquake feels like, but this felt different. I stopped, looked around, and listened. Nothing. So I went on. After about 10 seconds or so, the whole ridge cut loose. One second it was a great day and the next it was rock avalanche.

Almost comically, the piece of rock I was standing on broke into two pieces as they slid down the mountain. I ended up surfing these down through the avalanche. I'm not really sure how long it lasted, but it seemed to take forever. I guess it was about 30 to 50 seconds. The entire time I was getting pelted by rocks and trying to stay upright and on my "surfboard."

Just as I was coming to a stop, the left piece shot out and heard (and felt) a crack. I didn't know it then, but I'd fractured my tibia.

Because it took some some interesting footwork to get up the way I came from, I knew I couldn't go back. So I figured that I would keep going and find some smooth slope to slide down on to get back to my car. After an hour or so of hobbling, and not getting far, I came to a row of bushes and I pushed through...

Again, almost comically, beyond the bushed was a rock face 300 feet straight down. I could see the bend when my car laid just beyond. My options had narrowed down to two: I could go back the way I came, which would take hours on my broken leg or I could climb down the rock face. I took option number two.

I was about 50 feet down, and 250 feet above the ground, when I really started to feel tired. My hour long trek since the avalanche and the hours spent hiking before that, had nearly wiped me out. My hand were starting to shake and, since I was getting nervous, my hands started to sweat too. The problem was that the only ledge that could hold me was three feet to my right and five feet down, and there were no hand holds going that direction. So, I did the only thing I could, I closed my eyes, cleared my mind of any thoughts, and relaxed. Then, with a clear mind, I jumped.

Since I'm writing this, you know how things turned out.

Originally Posted by DOMS

Again, no where near as bad as yours:

I was driving from Mesa, Arizona to Las Vegas. I had worked for 18 hours before I left. I was driving about an hour out of Mesa though a curve; the next thing I know, I'm pulling up to the checkpoint at the California border. I had to have been asleep for an hour or so.

Sleep driving?

Thats straight balls DOMS. I don't know if im trusting or gullible, but either way that was a cool story.

Originally Posted by DOMS

Another of mine:

About three years ago I was hiking in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I heard it was dangerous, but it's a great place to catch some nature. Which, by the way, if funny because I'm a city boy who usually hates nature.

I was about and hour and half into my hike. I was listening to my MP3 player and getting a good workout. The sky was clear and the temperature was in the mid 80s with a slight breeze that made the day perfect. One of those perfect blue summer days.

I was walking along a crescent shaped ridge of rock. I felt the ground tremble. I'm from Burbank, California, so I know what an earthquake feels like, but this felt different. I stopped, looked around, and listened. Nothing. So I went on. After about 10 seconds or so, the whole ridge cut loose. One second it was a great day and the next it was rock avalanche.

Almost comically, the piece of rock I was standing on broke into two pieces as they slid down the mountain. I ended up surfing these down through the avalanche. I'm not really sure how long it lasted, but it seemed to take forever. I guess it was about 30 to 50 seconds. The entire time I was getting pelted by rocks and trying to stay upright and on my "surfboard."

Just as I was coming to a stop, the left piece shot out and heard (and felt) a crack. I didn't know it then, but I'd fractured my tibia.

Because it took some some interesting footwork to get up the way I came from, I knew I couldn't go back. So I figured that I would keep going and find some smooth slope to slide down on to get back to my car. After an hour or so of hobbling, and not getting far, I came to a row of bushes and I pushed through...

Again, almost comically, beyond the bushed was a rock face 300 feet straight down. I could see the bend when my car laid just beyond. My options had narrowed down to two: I could go back the way I came, which would take hours on my broken leg or I could climb down the rock face. I took option number two.

I was about 50 feet down, and 250 feet above the ground, when I really started to feel tired. My hour long trek since the avalanche and the hours spent hiking before that, had nearly wiped me out. My hand were starting to shake and, since I was getting nervous, my hands started to sweat too. The problem was that the only ledge that could hold me was three feet to my right and five feet down, and there were no hand holds going that direction. So, I did the only thing I could, I closed my eyes, cleared my mind of any thoughts, and relaxed. Then, with a clear mind, I jumped.

Since I'm writing this, you know how things turned out.

I didn't know ghosts could type, unless your using your ectoplasmic state to generate an electromagnetic field that interfaces with an open port

Originally Posted by KelJu

Sleep driving?

I must've. I have zero memory of driving to that point. It's not really that rare. A friend of mine was in the Navy working at a base in San Diego. He had just finished his shift (?) and left for LA. The last thing that he remembered was leaving San Diego county, the next thing he new he as entering LA county. He had zero recollection of driving. Not only that, but he beat his best time by 30 minutes.

Originally Posted by goandykid

Thats straight balls DOMS. I don't know if im trusting or gullible, but either way that was a cool story.

It's the truth.

I've never lied about myself on IM; ever. What's the point? There's some fun to be had with sharing personal experiences, but where's the fun in lying?

The funny (in a not-so-haha way) was that three other people died that weekend in Big Cottonwood. One girl simply tripped and hit her head on a rock. Big Cottonwood is very unstable ground. One of the big attractions, Donut Hole Falls, had an avalanche a couple years back. Thankfully, no one was hurt (I'm not sure if anyone was even there at the time).

Originally Posted by BigDyl

I didn't know ghosts could type, unless your using your ectoplasmic state to generate an electromagnetic field that interfaces with an open port

If I'm dead, this must be hell. After all, you're here...

Originally Posted by KelJu

I fell asleep at the wheel and drove off the side of a bridge at between 70-80 mph. The bridge rail ripped the bottom of my floorboard out and the impact when my car hit the creek bottom knocked me unconscious. I was knocked out from 10:00pm to 6:00am the next day. My car flew 70 feet through the air and hit just right on the creeks edge which made my car be flipped and rolled back onto its wheels in the creek. The creek was mostly dry, but mud came into my car through the floor board. When I woke up, I was waste deep in mud. All I got was a sprain ankle. The police the responded said I had no business walking away from that.

Holy fucking shit!!! That is one of the craziest things I have heard.

Originally Posted by goob

Rip tides are very evil things, that's pretty frightening.
I had a similar one in a cave in Asia about 5 years ago. I was in a river cave with a helmet torch and inflatable ring. I ventured in pretty deep into this cave, you were only meant to go so far, but i unwittingly ventured into a 'off-limits' section and got into the water and paddled along for a while, in awe of the roof formations etc... It was then my torch light went out. I was in pitch dark, and the current pulled me further in, in the slow onset of panic I fell out of the inflatable, and could not get back into because of the current and the confined space between two jagged walls. I was fighting hard to stay above water, all the time getting cut to pieces on the jagged walls. At this point I was really panicking. Luckily I heard, far of faint voices and dragged myself along the rock towards them. After what seemed an age, I felt rock in front of me and climbed up to find myself at the start of the 'off limits' section (ironically noticing the tiny sign - i'd missed earlier). I found my way out, to find out I'd been in there for 2 1/2 hours. My arms, and back were shredded, but I was just glad to escape, absolutely exhausted, but the rage inside now had compelled me to try and attack the asian vendor who'd supplied the rental torch, I was held back by 3 others.

Wow that is nuts too! Great imagery though.

Mine aren't as cool, but I am still young and have yet to die/almost die in a cool way.

I was driving back home from about 5-6 hours of snowboarding with a couple friends. It was around 12 in the morning and we were all talking about the great day of snowing. My friends were in the back seat watching some stuff that we filmed that day. I went down a different road that I had never been on. My friends said cops never are on it so we could get home quicker. It was narrow and windier that the high way I would usually take. There were houses scattered along it and fencing and guard rails along the road. So we had been going down it for a while and one of my friends starts laughing at some of the shit we filmed and I'm curious so he puts the cam up in front of my so I can half watch/half drive. During that I had entered a turn going about 80 mph....and it kept turning....and turning...then I lost control of the car and it had gone spinnings. So by natural reflex I whipped the wheel in the other direction and I slid that way, then I whipped it again, again kept sliding back and forth. I did this several times. Whip one way towards a big ditch and guard rail, then the other way, towards trees and houses and wooden fences. It was like fate didn't know which way I die. All the while I was going on either side of the road. I honestly thought I was going into the house at one point. Then I headed back towards the ditch and guard rail and I was like "ok, here it comes". But I only managed to get a small scratch on the rear bumper. phew!! After asking if everyone was ok, I turned off the car and just watched out kind of delirious. We laughed about it on the way back...but I have a phobia of turns now. I don't even think it was icy. Thankfully there was no car coming in the opposite direction. I can't remember all of the details because it was so crazy...I probably had been riding on some lawns as well.

My friends commended me on my leet driving skills after. One of my friends was particularly impressed that I handled it without crashing. I'm just glad I'm alive.

Originally Posted by fufu

Mine aren't as cool, but I am still young and have yet to die/almost die in a cool way.

I was driving back home from about 5-6 hours of snowboarding with a couple friends. It was around 12 in the morning and we were all talking about the great day of snowing. My friends were in the back seat watching some stuff that we filmed that day. I went down a different road that I had never been on. My friends said cops never are on it so we could get home quicker. It was narrow and windier that the high way I would usually take. There were houses scattered along it and fencing and guard rails along the road. So we had been going down it for a while and one of my friends starts laughing at some of the shit we filmed and I'm curious so he puts the cam up in front of my so I can half watch/half drive. During that I had entered a turn going about 80 mph....and it kept turning....and turning...then I lost control of the car and it had gone spinnings. So by natural reflex I whipped the wheel in the other direction and I slid that way, then I whipped it again, again kept sliding back and forth. I did this several times. Whip one way towards a big ditch and guard rail, then the other way, towards trees and houses and wooden fences. It was like fate didn't know which way I die. All the while I was going on either side of the road. I honestly thought I was going into the house at one point. Then I headed back towards the ditch and guard rail and I was like "ok, here it comes". But I only managed to get a small scratch on the rear bumper. phew!! After asking if everyone was ok, I turned off the car and just watched out kind of delirious. We laughed about it on the way back...but I have a phobia of turns now. I don't even think it was icy. Thankfully there was no car coming in the opposite direction. I can't remember all of the details because it was so crazy...I probably had been riding on some lawns as well.

My friends commended me on my leet driving skills after. One of my friends was particularly impressed that I handled it without crashing. I'm just glad I'm alive.

I bet all that video game hand-eye coordination come into play there.

No seriously though, we learn something about ourselves in a crisis that we could never know otherwise, and that is how we will hold together when it really matters.

One of the things that I always felt pride from was my ability to handle a tough situation. Everyday life kicks my ass just a little, but when the shit hits the fan I am taking care of business.

Originally Posted by KelJu

I bet all that video game hand-eye coordination come into play there.

No seriously though, we learn something about ourselves in a crisis that we could never know otherwise, and that is how we will hold together when it really matters.

One of the things that I always felt pride from was my ability to handle a tough situation. Everyday life kicks my ass just a little, but when the shit hits the fan I am taking care of business.

Oh yeah, as I was writing that I was thinking to myself, "I love moments like this(what I was writing about), because that is when you let go of every little fucking thought or worry, bother, or anything at all. You are just focused on one thing and that is a raw you."

Originally Posted by fufu

Mine aren't as cool, but I am still young and have yet to die/almost die in a cool way.

I was driving back home from about 5-6 hours of snowboarding with a couple friends. It was around 12 in the morning and we were all talking about the great day of snowing. My friends were in the back seat watching some stuff that we filmed that day. I went down a different road that I had never been on. My friends said cops never are on it so we could get home quicker. It was narrow and windier that the high way I would usually take. There were houses scattered along it and fencing and guard rails along the road. So we had been going down it for a while and one of my friends starts laughing at some of the shit we filmed and I'm curious so he puts the cam up in front of my so I can half watch/half drive. During that I had entered a turn going about 80 mph....and it kept turning....and turning...then I lost control of the car and it had gone spinnings. So by natural reflex I whipped the wheel in the other direction and I slid that way, then I whipped it again, again kept sliding back and forth. I did this several times. Whip one way towards a big ditch and guard rail, then the other way, towards trees and houses and wooden fences. It was like fate didn't know which way I die. All the while I was going on either side of the road. I honestly thought I was going into the house at one point. Then I headed back towards the ditch and guard rail and I was like "ok, here it comes". But I only managed to get a small scratch on the rear bumper. phew!! After asking if everyone was ok, I turned off the car and just watched out kind of delirious. We laughed about it on the way back...but I have a phobia of turns now. I don't even think it was icy. Thankfully there was no car coming in the opposite direction. I can't remember all of the details because it was so crazy...I probably had been riding on some lawns as well.

My friends commended me on my leet driving skills after. One of my friends was particularly impressed that I handled it without crashing. I'm just glad I'm alive.

Good going Speed Racer.

I laugh because I was in the same spot once; doing the "spinning stering wheel" thing. It didn't end as well for me as it did for you. I ended up hitting a very large light post head on at 30 MPH. I ripped the engine off of its mounts and shoved it into the driver's compartment.

Originally Posted by KelJu

No seriously though, we learn something about ourselves in a crisis that we could never know otherwise, and that is how we will hold together when it really matters.

No joke. If nothing else (assuming you're mentally balanced) it teaches you that you can live through some pretty crappy stuff. It makes losing your job seem like nothing.

It's pretty sad how many people make most of their decisions out of fear.

So many people over the years have told me that I'm just lucky to be alive. I usually reply with the quote "Luck favors the bold."

There is no way you can have good luck unless you put yourself in a bad situation.

Well, not really, but is sounds nice.

Originally Posted by DOMS

If I'm dead, this must be hell. After all, you're here...

How did you know about that?

The smell was the tip off.

Some shit-scary tales in there guys.

Doms - I had images of a Deliverance (not that part) type scene with that rock avalanche story. Almost like a survival against the odds type movie where you've got to choose between two slim chances to survive. That's crazy.
Kelju - That's fucking insane! I was in a 85-80 mph crash once and spun a few times but luckily did'nt hit any objects except a weak fence, but that is nothing like as crazy as your crash.
Fufu - Bet you were the toast when the beers were out later on...
That's the best part of these stories, they make brilliant anecdotes after a few beers.