Zack Polanski: How close have you come to dying?

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.

Zack Polanski

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Catching Covid. I don’t think any of us know what we’re messing with still to this day.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 209 →

Gloria Steinem Writer and feminist organiser

I’ve had cancer three times, but never felt close to death except when I walked between parked cars on my street and a car sped past my nose.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 March 2017 source ↗

Elaine Paige English singer and actress

One night in Cats, I missed my footing and nearly plunged more than 30ft. As if by magic, the stage manager’s hand appeared and winched me from certain death.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 September 2016 source ↗

Adeel Akhtar British actor

I fell off a ladder, landed on my back, got up and was fine.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 May 2018 source ↗

Milton Jones

Being offered a lift by James Acaster.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 April 2025 source ↗