What did Douglas experience when he went down to the bottom of the pool for the first time? Douglas experienced panic and suffocation. He was frightened but he was not out of his wits. Related posts: What did Douglas feel and do when he was pushed into the swimming pool? Mention any two long–term consequences of the drowning incident on Douglas. Douglas’s mother (ironically) thought that Y.M.C.A pool was safe for learning to swim. What are your views? What sort of terror seized Douglas as he went down the water with a yellow glow? How could he feel that he was still alive?