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 George Takei said elsewhere, not written here
After the war, when I was about nine, we were held up in our home. The robbers grabbed my father and had a gun at his throat. It was terrifying. My mother got a wad of money and gave it to the people, and they ran away.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 November 2019 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 209 →
Rick Astley Singer, songwriter and radio presenter
In the 1990s in New Jersey, being driven to a radio station early one morning. Our driver fell asleep and we were on the other side of a dual carriageway with cars coming at us. We all screamed and banged on the seat, and he woke up and pulled the car back across.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 October 2018 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 ↗
Zandra Rhodes British fashion designer
A plane to San Francisco, 25 years ago. There was a bang and I looked out of the window and saw flames coming out of one of the engines. We zoomed down to the airport below.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 July 2021 source ↗
My parents died within four days of each other. I was engulfed as I ran from one bedside to another.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 July 2026 source ↗

More from George Takei

View profile →

More on death & what remains

Also answered this

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jason Donovan, Joss Stone, Pauline Black, Shakin' Stevens, Zandra Rhodes

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer