Now I know there was an "up" around here somewhere
Aged about 7, I'm having swimming lessons in the local pool. I've stopped using armbands, and I'm practicing by swimming across the width of the pool at the shallow end. There's a couple of girls sitting on the edge; I notice them because one has her legs dangling in the water in front of me, and lifts them up as I struggle along, to make room for me to pass.

Or at least that's what I assumed. In fact she was simply preparing to give me a massive push straight downwards as I passed underneath her.

I remember quite clearly the sensation of complete disorientation: I had no idea at all which way was up. All I could see was bluish blurs and bubbles flowing in all directions. I seemed to be down there for ages, long enough to panic and think that I was about to drown. Thankfully I bobbed to the surface before too long - probably mere seconds, in reality - and was hauled out, coughing, spluttering and probably wailing like a anally-raped car alarm. The instructor had seen what happened, and while I was too scared and upset to pay much attention, I was dimly aware of a lot of shouting directed at my attempted murderer.

Actually that's one of two times in my life I've thought I might be about to drown - the other being caught in a vortex while whitewater rafting - and I can tell you that your life DOESN'T flash before your eyes. Sorry.
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Fri 17 Feb 2012, 16:48, 3 replies)

Yeah, I got rolled by a wave, once,
held under and totally disoriented. Rather than panic, or have my life flash before my eyes, it was a curiously mundane experience - the realisation that I was about to drown was very matter of fact. Then I washed up on the beach.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Fri 17 Feb 2012, 19:45, closed)

nice
b3ta.com/links/coffee_aint_it
( JessAction Give me all your expensive brandy and hubcaps., Sat 18 Feb 2012, 0:16, closed)

That really made me angry. What a cunt.
(it's not hash mixed drops, Sun 19 Feb 2012, 20:18, closed)