I was white-water rafting on the Lower Youghiogheny, and fell out at the top of Dimple Rock. I swam the rest of the rapid pretty much underwater, and was at the point of no strength left, ready to commend my soul to the deep, when I hit an eddy and managed to cough it out.
I didn't raft for about 15 years after that, until I finally took a white-knuckle trip down Six Mile Creek in Alaska, just to prove to myself that I could.
I've also been covered by guns in the hands of careless shooters several times, each more terrifying than the last.
Born and raised near Ohiopile, Pennsylvania. Spend many a day on that river. Lost a friend and two cousins to that river. Even George Washington found it tuff going during the French and Indiana War.