EM
Giving birth is much more treacherous than people let on.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 31 October 2020 source ↗
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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Lesley Sharp
British actress
I got run over when I was three. I ran across a road in Manchester and was hit by a car. I only had concussion, but I could have died.
Kevin Pietersen
English cricketer
Being charged by a white rhino on a walking safari. It came running towards us and I froze, which is the right thing to do. If it had hit us, it would have been goodnight.
Being about nine metres away from a polar bear. In northern Canada, a young polar bear was very intrigued by our food. I was flying the drone at the time and the polar bear looked up and started paying attention, so then we flew the drone further away and he followed it while we got into our vehicles.
I lived in New York during 9/11 and worked a couple of blocks away from the twin towers. I was looking when the first tower exploded and then when the second plane flew in and, before we had to evacuate, I did see people jump to their death.
More from Emily Mortimer
View profile →Yesterday, at my stepsister’s funeral. She was 78, an actor, and died of cancer.
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.
Our dog, Snowy. He’s a miniature poodle, and he’s needy and really irritating as a result.
I am a terrible driver, so not having killed myself or anyone else, so far.
All the things that seem very unimportant and manageable the next morning.
My children’s education.
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