He couldn't even break surface for more than a second at a time, his lungs were bursting.
There will be a point where your lungs are bursting and you just have to take another breath.
I had run until I thought my lungs would burst.
Then finally, just when he thought his lungs would burst, she turned and peered over the ridge, down into the camp.
The envelope was on top of us and I thought my lungs would burst.
We looked at each other for such a long time it felt as if my lungs would burst.
My lungs were bursting with the joyful song of being.
Tanis ran until it seemed his lungs would burst with pain.
His own lungs were bursting, but he could not stop: there were always more men down.
Tears welled up from so deep inside that he felt as if his heart and lungs would burst.