We had a cliff incident too (toddler scaled a crumbling seaside cliff and parent had to retrieve). Every time I recall it, a few more of my hairs turn gray. She was fine, of course, but it could have been actual death. She actually remembers this, perhaps because of the complete freak-out by us afterwards (she was told in no uncertain terms to stop and come down, but kept going, so we had no choice but to follow).