David Hasselhoff: 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 David Hasselhoff said elsewhere, not written here

Scuba diving in Costa Rica. My stunt double and I were trying out some equipment that let us talk to each other and I ran out of air at 80ft - probably because I talked too much. I had to use his air. Then we were surrounded by sharks. It was scary.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 April 2009 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 209 →

Joseph Fiennes English actor

Climbing in Tibet, surfing in Australia and a moment ago by a courgette cutter as I dithered over one of these questions.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2008 source ↗

Ian McEwan British novelist and screenwriter

Having a gun held to my head at a May Day rally during the revolution in Grenada. I was mistaken for a CIA agent.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 August 2018 source ↗

Graham Norton

I was stabbed in my 20s. It was a late-night mugging and, while taking my wallet, they stabbed me in my chest.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 April 2026 source ↗

Ronald Harwood South African playwright and novelist

Having a heart attack two days after my wife’s funeral.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 November 2016 source ↗