Justin Hawkins: How close have you come to dying?

The question

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A recurring Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

A flight from Paraguay to South Africa that went badly wrong. The plane nearly fell out of the sky and the oxygen masks dropped. People were screaming but the pilot saved the day, and then apparently never flew again.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 March 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 209 →

Bobby Gillespie Singer and songwriter

In 2016, I fell off stage in Switzerland and broke my back in four places.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 May 2021 source ↗

Aidan Gillen Irish actor

Last year, driving in California, I found myself on the wrong side of the road. I was 30 seconds away from hitting two cars coming the other way.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 May 2017 source ↗

Alison Moyet English singer

When I was doing my gold swimming badge. I had to get undressed in a swimming pool and had forgotten my gym kit, so the teacher gave me a kit two sizes too small. In the water, I got my arms up over my head to get the shirt off and they locked. I sank to the bottom of the pool and sat there until a girl jumped in and dragged me back up again.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 June 2017 source ↗

Harry Redknapp English football player and manager

A car accident in Italy in 1990. Four people got killed. I was lucky, I got thrown out.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 May 2019 source ↗

More from Justin Hawkins

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Question What thought won't let you sleep? Daily life

Intrusive thoughts and caffeine.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 March 2025 source ↗

Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

It’s really, really nice.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 March 2025 source ↗

Question What do you believe happens when we die? Death & what remains

Massive DMT release, your perception of time dilates, you realise you can fly, then it all goes black, and you start again, only this time … you’re a slug.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 March 2025 source ↗