'Canoe man' John Darwin almost killed himself for REAL when faking his own death in £500,000 con

'Canoe Man' John Darwin, who faked his own death so he and his wife could claim a life insurance payout worth half a million pounds, has revealed he almost died staging his death at sea. John and Anne Darwin were able to clear their debts and claim £500,000 in life insurance John's new wife Mercy May, 48, said he is 'on his way' to fight in Ukraine - and has life insurance Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan star as John and Anne Darwin in a new series about the plot In new unpublished memoirs, Darwin revealed he almost died for real while paddling out to sea off Seaton Carew, according to the Mirror. HOW 'CANOE MAN' WAS JAILED WITH WIFE FOR FAKING DEATH By Harry Howard, History Correspondent for MailOnline When John Darwin went missing in the sea outside his home in 2002, his own sons thought he was dead. John and Anne's incredible story is the subject of new ITV drama 'The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe', which airs next month and stars Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan.