The question

How close have you come to dying?

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.

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Others on this question

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Munroe Bergdorf
Before transitioning, I had a severe eating disorder. The doctor said, “Your body’s shutting down and if you don’t improve your mental and physical wellbeing, you’ll die.” Shortly after that, I started transitioning medically and my eating disorder resolved.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 July 2025 source ↗
Nicola Walker British actress
Swimming off the north Cornish coast eight years ago. I remember thinking, “Why did they teach you how to inflate your pyjamas in life-saving classes at school, when they could have just told you what to do in a riptide?”
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 January 2017 source ↗
Adam Clayton
When I was drinking, there were many times when I was out for the night and didn’t come back for a week.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 December 2024 source ↗

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