Narrator Steve Backshall describes a harrowing experience that brought him to the brink of death, with his mind revealing a mind-boggling vision.
Steve Backshall, a 52-year-old TV naturalist and adventurer, has faced the abyss twice in his career—first during a rock-climbing accident and later during a kayaking disaster. These harrowing experiences left him with a profound sense of gratitude, particularly towards his fellow adventurer, Sal Montgomery, who played a pivotal role in saving his life on both occasions.
In the summer of 2018, Backshall found himself in the icy grip of an icy whirlpool during a kayaking expedition. The water, a glacial melt, was highly aerated and spinning, causing his buoyancy to disappear. He was dragged down to the bottom of the whirlpool multiple times and nearly drowned. His brain, flooded with adrenaline, ran through every scenario it could find to get him out of the situation. Without the help of Montgomery, who battled upstream against the rapids, got a line, and threw it to Backshall, he would not have survived.
The near-death experience during the kayaking incident was unique for Backshall. He had never experienced such a prolonged period—four-and-a-half minutes—to think about and process what was happening to him. This extended time, coupled with the adrenaline rushing through his veins, might have made his brain process things faster, causing time to appear to slow down.
This phenomenon, where the brain processes things faster during near-death experiences, has been the subject of scientific research. Scientists at UC San Diego have identified molecular fear switches in the brain that affect how neurons behave under extreme stress. This alteration in neuronal activity may underlie the rapid processing described in near-death experiences.
Backshall's specific comments on this topic were not found directly in the search results, but the scientific explanation aligns with the mechanism he might refer to. The brain's fear response can heighten alertness and temporal perception, making events feel as if they are happening in slow motion or with increased detail—this could be interpreted as the brain processing things "faster" during such experiences.
Prior to these near-death experiences, Backshall became a father for the first time. His near-death experience occurred months after welcoming twins Kit Nathan Newlyn and Willow Bo into the world. This event, coupled with the harrowing experiences he faced, no doubt added a new dimension to his life.
Backshall's life flashed through his mind in a video-like sequence in about one-and-a-half seconds during his 2011 fall. The rock-climbing accident left him with a broken back and a bone piercing through the underside of his foot. Despite these injuries, he was able to climb down and receive medical attention.
Backshall is married to Olympic champion rower Helen Glover. The couple had a stillbirth before having their son Logan in July 2018. They went on to have another set of twins in 2020, completing their family.
Through his near-death experiences, Backshall has gained a newfound appreciation for life. He feels a powerful gratitude towards Sal Montgomery for saving his life, and his experiences have undoubtedly made him a more resilient and determined individual.
- Steve Backshall, a proponent of workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness, shares his close brushes with death during his adventurous career.
- In the realm of mental-health discussions, Backshall's resilience in the face of adversity serves as an inspiration.
- Fitness-and-exercise enthusiasts might find Backshall's experiences a testament to the human body's incredible capacity to endure hardships.
- The science of skin-care can learn from the impacts of temperature extremes on Backshall's skin during his near-death experiences.
- Those interested in therapies-and-treatments for post-traumatic stress disorders might find parallels in Backshall's psychological recovery process.
- Nutrition plays a crucial role in recovery as seen in Backshall's survival story, where his body relied on stored resources to fight off hypothermia.
- Aging researchers could examine the long-term effects of such traumatic events on Backshall's overall health as he grows older.
- Women's-health advocates could use Backshall's experiences to emphasize the importance of supportive networks, as demonstrated by his partner, Helen Glover.
- Parenting books might find value in discussing the ways parents can teach resilience and gratitude to their children through real-life examples like Backshall's.
- The education-and-self-development sector can leverage Backshall's experiences to promote personal-growth and career-development workshops.
- Job-seekers could learn the importance of skills-training in various sectors from Backshall, whose adaptability helped him bounce back from setbacks.
- Sports like football, baseball, hockey, golf, basketball, racing, American football, horse-racing, and tennis can learn from Backshall's focus and determination in unfavorable conditions.
- Sports-betting enthusiasts might find fascinating analyses on how near-death experiences could impact an athlete's performance.
- Mixed-martial-arts practitioners can draw inspiration from Backshall's ability to think quickly under extreme pressure.
- Auto-racing teams and safety experts might consider Backshall's near-death experiences as catalysts for enhancing safety measures in their respective sports.
- Sports-analysis professionals could delve into the psychological factors affecting performance during high-stress situations, drawing examples from Backshall's experiences.
