Football legend Paul Gascoigne has appeared on live TV this morning to discuss his latest battle with alcohol, which was prompted by a public breakdown in Northampton.
The former England footballer appeared on ITV’s Daybreak programme, saying he was feeling “good” despite a well publicised “bad time”.
The 45-year-old said doctors feared he would die when he needed hospital treatment in the United States recently after going there for detox.
He was admitted after an appearance at the Cobblers’ charity sporting dinner at the Park Inn Hotel in Northampton last month.
Guests, who paid £100 per ticket to hear anecdotes from the 1990 World Cup hero, saw him abandon the stage after only ten minutes after he burst into tears.
Audience members said he was also trembling uncontrollably and apologised after swearing several times while answering questions put to him by his agent.
Speaking today, he said: “I went to the treatment centre, and they tried to detox us, and they couldn’t, so they rushed us to hospital, and that’s where it got quite serious.
“I just remember the guy saying to the doctor in the treatment centre, ‘I don’t think this guy’s going to make it’, and obviously I put my head up a little bit, and I had tubes all over my arms and body, and getting injected, and I said, please don’t let me die, I need to water the plants. The plants were more important than me. The plants passed away and I survived.”
He added: “People are saying it’s too early for me to be talking, but it’s best for me to get back to reality straight away.”
Gascoigne thanked celebrities including Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans and footballer Gary Mabbutt who helped him.
The former player added: “Seeing the support I had, people are out there caring.
“Sometimes I feel it’s easy for me to get treatment, but this time was horrific.”
Asked about comparisons with the late former Manchester United star George Best, Gascoigne said: “God bless him, he’s passed away, and I was friends with George, but I just felt like George didn’t want to get well. I’m trying so hard to do it.”