Death is always close.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 June 2021 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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Bernadine Evaristo
English author and academic
Travelling Europe with a friend, when I was 29. She was driving and the brakes went, on one of those vertiginous Italian mountains. It was terrifying for the 20 minutes it took to coast down the mountain.
Kim Gordon
American musician and artist
When I was little, I took a bunch of pills out of the cabinet because I was bored, when I was supposed to be taking a nap. I had to have my stomach pumped.
Meera Syal
British writer and actress
On a school trip to Wales when I was 12. My canoe capsized and got stuck upside down next to a rock. I was underwater for about 30 seconds but it felt a lot longer.
Christy Turlington Burns
American model
The birth of my daughter.
More from Peter Capaldi
View profile →Our ancient cat miaowing, because it’s got dementia.
I am always disappointed when I see myself on the screen.
I have been pretty terrible in quite a lot of terrible things.
Johnny Cash’s version of Danny Boy.
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