“I’m not optimistic at all about this race.”
On the morning of the San Marino Grand Prix, Ayrton Senna spoke to former teammate and rival Alain Prost, expressing his concerns about the safety of the racing circuit. The 34 year old racing legend died from fatal head injuries after crashing at the high-speed Tamburello corner on lap 7 of the race.
“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.”
While his literal final words were never recorded, this is a poignant quote from the science-fiction author, most well known for the futuristic Dune series of novels. Frank Herbert died of a pulmonary embolism while recovering from surgery for pancreatic cancer, he was 65 years old.
“Of course I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”
In a moment of lucidity as he lay dying from stomach cancer, John Wayne spoke these last words to his daughter Aissa, who asked him if he knew her.
The iconic actor, best known for his roles in Western movies, passed away aged 72 at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles with family by his side.
“Sleep is all I want now”
Widely regarded as the greatest movie actor of all time, Marlon Brando whispered these final words on his deathbed. Aged 80 he died from respiratory failure at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by family.
“I think it’s brilliant. I’ve fallen completely in love with it. And the promise of what’s to come once people start developing in Cocoa is awesome…”
Douglas Adams, a technology enthusiast, was excited about the then-new Mac OS X he had been trying, and wrote this update on his personal website two weeks before his death at the age of 49.
The author and environmentalist, best known as the creator of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, collapsed from a heart attack at a private gym and died in Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
“We should remember our dying and try to live that our death brings no pleasure to the world.”
This quote is taken from the Nobel Prize winning author’s book East of Eden. John Steinbeck passed away from heart disease at his home in New York City, where his writing career had begun. He was 66 and had been a lifelong smoker.
“Let me go to the house of the Father.”
The head of the Catholic Church, and 263rd successor to Peter, spoke these deathbed words to his aides in his native language Polish. John Paul II died from heart failure at the age of 84 in his private apartment at the Vatican.
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet.”
This is a quote from one of Stephen Hawking’s books – Brief Answers to the Big Questions. At the age of 21 he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which over time gradually paralysed him. The scientist, professor and author died peacefully at his home in Cambridge, he was aged 76.
“I don’t feel well.”
Three weeks after having surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain, Diego Maradona spoke these last tragic words to nephew Johnny Esposito. The 60 year old soccer legend suffered a heart attack in his sleep and passed away at home in Buenos Aires.
“I’m ready.. it’s been a while.”
These were the actor’s last words from his final public Instagram post. Val Kilmer died in his sleep of pneumonia at home in Los Angeles, he was 65 years old.
