Gascoigne thought he was a dead man this time

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After his return from Phoenix, Arizona, former England footballer Paul Gascoigne said he thought he was going to die during a month-long treatment at the Cottonwood Clinic.

The 45-year-old said he heard three doctors saying they did not think he was going to pull through before he slipped into a coma that lasted for three days.

In an interview, he recalls saying to doctors: "Please save my life - I don't want to die," and said when he came around at one stage he heard them talking and heard them agreeing with one who said: "I don't think this guy is going to make it."

"The medics who have spent their careers treating alcoholics said my detox was the worst they had ever seen," he said.

"The reason I was tied to the bed was I had tubes in either arm, and those tubes could not come out.

"I was getting constantly injected around my heart and around the lung. I knew that. I've had quite a few chances in my life but I am so grateful to be alive.

"I was pumped with more drugs than any other patient. I was out cold for three days. It was unbelievable looking down and wondering how this had happened to me.

"I thought I was on my way out. It has got to inspire me to never let this happen again. I've come through that - death. I was dead.

"I should be dead. The doctors said I would not make it. But I'm here, I have another chance - and I'm going to take it."