closest you've ever come to dying?

[Hubris]

I had spinal meningitis when I was like 18 mos. old. My mom (who's an RN) noticed I was turning my head to look at my sister when she came into the room, like I normally would have. She didn't like it, brought me to the doctor, and he told my mom that if she'd waited a couple more hours, I would have most likely been dead but would DEFINITELY have had brain damage. Now, whether I have brain damage is debatable, but at least I'm still alive and kicking.

 

[Tallgeese]

I was very nearly buried alive in my 20s, while bolting together water main in a ditch.

One side collapsed, pinning my legs and forcing my face against the other side.
I could feel that side sliding the entire time it took for my coworkers to dig me out.

 

[Sundog]

Was skiing on "The Ridge" at Bridger Bowl in Montana and had a snow lip/corneas give way. 65-70ft fall off the cliff and was semi buried in snow. Both my ski partner and I had gone down so our avalanche beepers did no good because no one else was there. Eventually got out...I think we were trapped for over 2 hours...kind of hard to tell, we were pretty out of it by the time we got off the mountain.

Some cracked ribs, bruised kidneys, lacerated faces but none the less alive. Busted one of each of our skis.

 

[Rufio]

i almost drowned but my cousin saved me.

i fell 3 stories off a cliff in joshua tree.

 

[oboeguy]

I'd have to say mostly idiots driving cars while I was bike riding have been the nearest causes. For example, I was once rear-ended by a car while on my bike (morons!)... went OTB (over-the-(handle)bars) and was lucky not to get run-over, I suppose.

Interesting how most of these things we see in this thread are do to cars. And people wonder why I think they are evil.

 

[Flatline]

Aside from almost being in a head-on collision with a semi on a mountain highway(the driver had fallen asleep-he woke up when he heard my horn and slammed on the brakes), it would be when a handhold broke loose while climbing a rock-face in high school

 

[Scarpozzi]

I once had to watch the teletubbies....

 

[Encryptic]

Spun my car out going around a moderate curve on a four-lane freeway while doing 60-plus (recommended speed for that curve was 45, not to mention the road was still a little wet from rain during the night). Another car was approaching as I slid toward the divider after doing a 360. I most likely would have bought it if the other car had been just a few seconds earlier.

Minor damage to the front of the car from scraping the divider before I got the car under control and stopped it in the breakdown lane on the left-hand side. I wasn't hurt, but scared the living sh!t out of myself of course. Thankfully, I learned my lesson that time....

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I once had to watch the teletubbies....

A fate WORSE than death!

 

[arcas]

I was dayhiking and while climbing up the back of a rock face I grabbed a tree root that looked sturdy. It shifted and swung me into an adjacent rock face. If it had given way completely, I'd have fallen 200 feet. The scar on my leg is a subtle reminder of my mistake. Lesson learned.

 

[waylman]

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
almost drowned 3 times.

Learn to swim man!

 

[glugglug]

Was biking around the block when I was 3 or 4 while the house next door was still under construction, bike slipped out from under me on the dirt, slid face first on the pavement a full lot length (about 50-60 feet) until arriving at our mailbox.

Perhaps closer:
I swerved to avoid someone running a red light, I spun out & did a 360 in 60mph traffic. Was pretty lucky it was a full turn so I ended up facing forwards I think. Couldn't do that again if I tried.

 

[alkemyst]

I have been shot at twice. I have also talked my way out of a couple 10 to 1 type gang situations which probably would have messed me up badly.

Other than that only close calls and since I was left standing, it was ok with me.

 

[TheJoker6900]

I was about 12 and we went on a school trip to france. We went to the beach and some of my mates went into the sea. But i couldn't swim so i couldn't go. But i was bored sitting there so i went in to the sea a little and it was up to my waist so i went a bit further. Then all of a sudden this big wave came over me and i went under. My mates had to drag me back to the shore. I didn't drown but it was close.

 

[AU Tiger]

Falling off a waterfall when I was about nine. Thankfully it was only about a 15-20 ft drop into about a two foot deep pool. Escaped with nothing more than a messed up ankle and cut foot. Could have been worse if my head had hit first. I learned firsthand about "life flashing before your eyes" while sliding towards that waterfall edge.

 

[Mill]

I once had a ceiling collapse on my head, but I escaped major injury. The closet I have come to dying is when my heart stop beating several times due to a drug interaction/overdose. Now that sucked.

 

[Ranger X]

I can't remember moments where I almost died but I did come close to killing a motorcyclist while driving the carpool lane.

There was traffic and people on the carpool lane were speeding past everything. This motorcyclist decides to slowly come into the carpool lane -- without looking -- going about 10mph while the carpool traffic was about 70-80mph. Luckily I dodged him but in the process I almost hit the central dividing wall between two traffic directions.