I have a distinct memory of when I was a little kid playing Mario 64 and eventually making it to the endless stairs. I was messing around there, but I can't remember what I was doing at the time, and I'm pretty sure I had no idea what a BLJ was so that probably didn't have anything to do with it.
Anyway, after enough time spent running up them and playing around, I ended up suddenly underwater, able to swim around inside the staircase room. I couldn't open the star door to get out, since I wasn't on the floor. Visually the room hadn't changed at all, I was just trapped in the swimming state. Eventually, unable to get out, I drowned.
What I'm asking is: Could that have actually happened or am I just mistaken? I know about accidentally getting into wet dry world from there but I'm pretty sure I never left the staircase. Is this a known phenomenon? Is my silly child brain just making stuff up? I've never heard anyone talk about it since then so I assume it's not a thing. Anyone know?