Andrew, a former American football player who briefly played for the Detroit Lions, survived a 100ft fall at Kaaterskill Falls in upstate New York and recounted a bizarre near-death experience involving an interrogation room and spirits. In an interview with Soft White Underbelly on YouTube, Andrew described the accident and the chilling message he received from what he believed were guardian angels.
The Accident at Kaaterskill Falls
On July 10, 2009, Andrew, his brother, and friends were hiking at Kaaterskill Falls, a spot he described as a 'very sacred place' accessible via a half-mile walk through the woods. Andrew had done the hike about 10 times before and considered it safe enough for children. However, on the descent, he opted to slide down a short section rather than walk an extra 20 feet, a decision that led to disaster.
Andrew slipped and hit his head, then fell off a 10-foot lip and continued down a much larger cliff. He estimates the total fall was '100 plus' feet, but not a straight drop—he bounced down the mountain, accompanied by rocks and vegetation. His friend watched in horror, comparing Andrew's slide to a baseball player sliding into second base before falling backward off the cliff.
Near-Death Experiences
Upon hitting the ground, Andrew lost consciousness and experienced two 'mystical' events. In the first, he saw from a point of view in the sky, looking down at treetops and witnessing what he described as 'two whips of light' that met and redirected toward him. He felt 'complete love, forgiveness' and a sense of coming home.
In the second experience, Andrew found himself in an 'interrogation room' lying down, surrounded by 'spirits or guardian angels.' Two appeared to be crying, while a third was more stoic. They assured him they would get him through the ordeal but delivered a chilling message: 'this has to happen.' When asked to clarify, Andrew confirmed 'this' referred to the accident itself.
Injuries and Recovery
Andrew suffered catastrophic injuries: a shattered right shoulder, torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee, cracked pelvis, collapsed lung, and broken vertebrae. A doctor hiking nearby provided initial aid, and Andrew was airlifted to a hospital. Remarkably, just 56 days after the incident, he drove himself back to college to finish his degree. Andrew now works at a private school.
