I was traveling in New Zealand in 1983-84 backpacking in many of their national parks and while in the Fiordland N.P. i was backpacking by myself in the Grebe Valley and was caught in a flash flood that turned the valley into a lake overnight.  I had to swim out through the trees for more than a 1/2 mile or so.

After sitting under a tree near my flooded tent waiting for the sun to come up for maybe 6 hours before I could begin this journey out, and then swimming through the forest for an hour or so (I don't really know how long much of this took), I had a stretch of maybe a 100 yards or so that had no trees, it was a field the day before, and I had to swim it with out stopping.  About half way across this field, i was caught in some vines and went under. i could not get out of the vines and after a struggle, i literally gave up.

At this point i saw my life pass before my eyes and witnessed the white light at the end of the tunnel. then for some unknown reason, i was back at the surface and I saw a man in a boat nearby.  I have always "felt" like it was Jesus but until reading this book, i thought i was a bit crazy and never could really explain what i saw.

I am convinced that this "3rd man" or Jesus or spirit saved my life.  I believe now this person helped me from drowning.  at that time, he gave me a comfort feeling & confidence that I "could do this". 

I swam across this "field" and rested by climbing up a tree.  finished swimming out through the woods, climbed a very steep cliff, and walked 15 miles out to Monowai Village on a road that was washed out by the rains in many places.  Some places I had to wade through mud up to my thighs. the mantra in my head was "don't deal with anything until it is right in front of you."  I wonder now if that was put in my head by this 3rd Man. Regardless, the 3rd man showed up when i needed him most.

Thanks for writing this book.  Few days go by when i don't think about this day when I nearly died and I saw this man in the boat who guided me to safety and saved my life.

Jim