The world spun for a moment, then slowed as he stood, taking deep, painful breaths of fresh air.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he drew another painful breath.

Heavy with water, sobbing painful cold breaths, we got to the top.

Steve took several painful breaths and, with increasing desperation, tried again.

He took a deep, painful breath and let it out.

He took a deep, painful breath, and determinedly began to read.

He drew a deep and somewhat painful breath of cool, damp air.

He sat down heavily and drew a deep, painful breath.

She forced several deep, painful breaths into the old lungs.

Again, she had no idea how long this lasted; each painful breath seemed to be an hour away from another.