Having heard the sad news of Natasha Richardson earlier today has reaffirmed just how thin the line between life and death really is.

Just before Christmas 2007 a friend of my husband's fell from his work van, stood up, walked and talked normally. He was pronounced dead 3 days later after the decision to switch off his life support was taken by his next of kin. There were no visible signs of injury, no blood, no broken bones, just a major head trauma that still had to be diagnosed.

This could easily be you or I. I have walked on an icy pavement and slipped. I have fallen from a horse (several times - always wear a hat though), crashed my push bike into a tree whilst showing off to boys that I could do a wheelie when I was about 12. In fact the list of accidents I have had goes on.

Thankfully none turned out to be very serious, no broken bones, a little blood but nothing a bandaid and a healing mum kiss couldn't put right.