Surviving the Unthinkable - A Near Death Experience
Sat Jan 31 2026
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Episode Overview
In this episode of Becoming Ronin, we sit down with Adrian, a former paramedic whose life was forever altered during a hiking trip when he was struck by lightning. Against staggering odds, a series of extraordinary and near-impossible circumstances: aligned timing, location, rescue, and medical intervention, allowing him to survive an event that is almost certainly fatal.
Adrian walks us through the moments leading up to the strike, the chaos that followed, and the long road to recovery that began when he woke up in a hospital bed. But survival was only the beginning. During the time he was unconscious, Adrian describes experiencing a profound darkness, an awareness without form or time that felt like crossing into another dimension altogether. It was not fear, not peace, but something entirely unfamiliar that challenged his understanding of consciousness and life itself.
Drawing on his background in emergency medicine, Adrian reflects on compassion, humility, and the strange irony of becoming the patient rather than the provider. He speaks candidly about the physical and emotional aftermath, the role of family and medical teams in his recovery, and the internal battle that followed: whether to retreat from the experience or rise because of it.
This conversation explores resilience, the power of choice in the face of suffering, and how surviving the unthinkable reshaped Adrian's view of purpose, identity, and what it truly means to be alive.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction to Adrian's Story
[01:46] Adrian's Background & Path to Paramedicine
[04:32] Compassion in Emergency Services
[07:06] A Call That Changed Everything
[14:40] Road to Becoming a Physician Assistant
[22:03] Road Trip Begins
[28:26] The Climb: Hiking Torrey's Peak
[35:23] The Decision to Call for Help
[39:49] The Lightning Strike
[40:13] Panic, Confusion, and Uncertainty
[43:18] Rescue: A Race Against Time
[47:16] Consciousness in the Dark
[55:09] Waking Up
[01:06:23] Life After Trauma: A New Perspective
[01:15:35] Choosing to Rise
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Every like, review, and share helps us inspire more people on their self-mastery journey. Together, we can grow stronger, more disciplined, and live better lives.
#BecomingRonin #FitnessJourney #SelfMastery #WorkoutTips #Empowerment #FitnessProgramming #GrowthMindset #Podcast
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🔗 Subscribe on YouTube Episode Overview In this episode of Becoming Ronin, we sit down with Adrian, a former paramedic whose life was forever altered during a hiking trip when he was struck by lightning. Against staggering odds, a series of extraordinary and near-impossible circumstances: aligned timing, location, rescue, and medical intervention, allowing him to survive an event that is almost certainly fatal. Adrian walks us through the moments leading up to the strike, the chaos that followed, and the long road to recovery that began when he woke up in a hospital bed. But survival was only the beginning. During the time he was unconscious, Adrian describes experiencing a profound darkness, an awareness without form or time that felt like crossing into another dimension altogether. It was not fear, not peace, but something entirely unfamiliar that challenged his understanding of consciousness and life itself. Drawing on his background in emergency medicine, Adrian reflects on compassion, humility, and the strange irony of becoming the patient rather than the provider. He speaks candidly about the physical and emotional aftermath, the role of family and medical teams in his recovery, and the internal battle that followed: whether to retreat from the experience or rise because of it. This conversation explores resilience, the power of choice in the face of suffering, and how surviving the unthinkable reshaped Adrian's view of purpose, identity, and what it truly means to be alive. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to Adrian's Story [01:46] Adrian's Background & Path to Paramedicine [04:32] Compassion in Emergency Services [07:06] A Call That Changed Everything [14:40] Road to Becoming a Physician Assistant [22:03] Road Trip Begins [28:26] The Climb: Hiking Torrey's Peak [35:23] The Decision to Call for Help [39:49] The Lightning Strike [40:13] Panic, Confusion, and Uncertainty [43:18] Rescue: A Race Against Time [47:16] Consciousness in the Dark [55:09] Waking Up [01:06:23] Life After Trauma: A New Perspective [01:15:35] Choosing to Rise 💡 Join the Ronin community for weekly insights, tips, and motivation! 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @oberther @smittydiesel 🌐 Visit Our Website: www.becomingronin.com 🛠 Share Your Journey: Tag us with #BecomingRonin and let us know how you're taking control of your fitness and personal growth journey! 👍 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone ready to level up their life! Sponsors 🎒Eberlestock https://eberlestock.com/RONIN 💪 Jocko Fuel Shop now and save with code RONIN10! 🛡 Iron Neck Improve neck strength and save 10%! 💧 LMNT Electrolytes Get FREE LMNT with your first order! Support the Show Every like, review, and share helps us inspire more people on their self-mastery journey. Together, we can grow stronger, more disciplined, and live better lives. #BecomingRonin #FitnessJourney #SelfMastery #WorkoutTips #Empowerment #FitnessProgramming #GrowthMindset #Podcast