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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.

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

Others on this question

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Chris Hoy British track cyclist, 1994–2013
The London terror attack on 7/7 in 2005. I was in London the day before for the Olympic bid. When we won I thought, “I should stay over – it will be a great party tonight.” But I decided to go back to Manchester for training. Bombs went off on what would have been my route to the station.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 February 2018 source ↗
David Jason English actor
Diving in the Virgin Islands. I lost sight of the boat and had to swim to a tiny, deserted island. After a great deal of time, the rescue boat saw me waving for my life on the rocks.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 May 2021 source ↗
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 ↗
Gemma Chan British Chinese actress
In 2012 I stared into the eyes of someone who had just stabbed a man in the neck on the street. I was trying to help the victim; for a very long three or four seconds, I thought he was going to come for me next.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 August 2018 source ↗

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