Abstract Aims and objectives The study aimed to describe how breathlessness is experienced by patients prior to prehospital care. Design A qualitative phenomenological design. Methods Lifeworld interviews were conducted with 14 participants. The analysis was carried out within the descriptive phenomenological framework. Results The essential meaning of the breathlessness phenomenon is described as an existential fear in terms of losing control over one?s body and dying, which involves a battle to try to regain control. This is further described by four constituents: being in an unknown body, striving to handle the situation, the ambiguity of having loved ones close and reaching the utmost border. Conclusions Patients describe a battling for survival. It is at the extreme limit of endurance that patients finally choose to call the emergency number. It is a challenge for the ambulance clinician (AC) to support these patients in the most optimal fashion.