noun
one's last moments; on the point of death; on one's deathbed
Refers to the time or state just before death. Often used in phrases like 死に際に (at the moment of death) or 死に際の言葉 (last words).
彼は死に際に家族の名前を呼んだ。
He called out his family's names in his last moments.
死に際の言葉は忘れられない。
I can't forget his dying words.
Compound of 死に (continuative form of 死ぬ 'to die') + 際 ('time, occasion').