How close have you come to death?

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 Jon Sopel said elsewhere, not written here
I’ve had motorcycle accidents – I had one where I ended up in intensive care. But if you are on a frontline – which I have been – and people start shooting at you – which they have done – you put yourself in quite considerable danger. So: on a moving frontline in northern Afghanistan in 2001.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 October 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

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Jo Nesbø Norwegian writer and musician
Rock climbing in Oslo. During abseiling, I hadn’t tied a knot at the end of the rope and almost slid out. I saw the end of the rope at the last second, so I stopped abseiling.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 April 2026 source ↗
Sara Pascoe English comedian, presenter, writer
Ten years ago, I went to visit my dad in Australia. I walked to the edge of a cliff and looked over and tripped. I righted myself but my head was over the edge. No one saw it.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 July 2018 source ↗
Craig David British singer
I was caught by a wave while swimming at night with friends in Southampton. That shook me.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 November 2016 source ↗

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