(CNN) -- Three times, Adrian Pracon prepared to die on Utoya island, a Norwegian paradise turned to hell Friday. Friends he laughed with earlier in the day fell one by one in a gunman's hail of fire. 

He survived to tell a horrifying tale Saturday. 

When the shooting started Friday afternoon, many of the 600 people at the ruling Labour Party's youth camp ran down a hill and to the water. The shooter came after them, screaming. 

"You are all going to die!" 

Pracon was one of the last ones remaining between the shooter and the water and didn't have time to take his heavy clothes or boots off. About 100 meters into the chilly water, he realized he would not make it. He would drown with all that weight. 

"I felt I couldn't breathe. I already swallowed too much water," he said. "I felt the clothes pulling me down." 

He managed to swim back to shore and crouched behind a boulder with others. But the gunman found him. He was so close that Pracon could see down the barrel of his weapon. He was sure to get a direct hit. Pracon thought he was going to die. 

Another survivor, Otzar Fagerheim, described the gunman as having blond hair and pale skin. He carried three guns, he said. At times, he shot those guns with disarming calm, like he was shooting photographs. He even smiled, Fagerheim said. 

Pracon was surprised to hear the shooter speaking Norwegian. He was certain a compatriot could never commit such a heinous act. 
How many people youth camp?
Where did they go?
What was the shooter yelling?
Who almost died three times?
Did he take anything off before he got in the water?
Why not?
WAs the water warm?
Where did he hide?
What was the name of the other person that almost died?
What color was the man's hair that held the gun?
Did he have dark skin?
Was the shooter smiling?
What language did he speak?
Where did it take place?
What day was it?
600
 600 people at the ruling Labour Party's youth camp
ran down a hill and to the water
Labour Party's youth camp ran down a hill and to the wate
"You are all going to die!"
"You are all going to die!" 
Pracon

Pracon was one of the last ones remaining between the shooter and the water and didn't have time to take his heavy clothes or boots off. About 100 meters into the chilly water, he realized he would not make it. He would drown with all that weight. 
No
Pracon was one of the last ones remaining between the shooter and the water and didn't have time to take his heavy clothes or boots off. 
he didn't have time
Pracon was one of the last ones remaining between the shooter and the water and didn't have time to take his heavy clothes or boots off.
no
chilly water
behind a boulder
He managed to swim back to shore and crouched behind a boulder 
Otzar Fagerheim
Another survivor, Otzar Fagerheim
blond
the gunman as having blond hair
No
described the gunman as having blond hair and pale skin
yes
 He even smiled, Fagerheim said. 
Norwegian
shooter speaking Norwegian
on Utoya island
Adrian Pracon prepared to die on Utoya island
Friday.
Norwegian paradise turned to hell Friday. 