Wayne Lineker, the prominent entrepreneur and founder of Ibiza's O Beach, has delivered a raw and emotional account of what he describes as the 'worst year' of his life, culminating in a frightening brush with death and a hard-won journey to sobriety.
A Harrowing Year Charted on Instagram
In a poignant Instagram reel set to a choral version of 'Silent Night', the 63-year-old brother of football pundit Gary Lineker used handwritten cards to detail a brutal twelve months. He revealed that in April 2025, he flew to Ibiza and embarked on a 60-day bender sustained by drugs, alcohol, and minimal sleep.
The low point came at the end of June when he awoke to find a viral video of himself 'off his face' trending at number one on TikTok and Twitter. This public humiliation became a catalyst for change. At the beginning of July, he checked into a rehabilitation facility for a six-week programme.
A Physical Collapse and Near-Fatal Infection
Lineker's health deteriorated severely during this period. His immune system crashed, leading to battles with seven infections, including shingles. After leaving rehab, he returned to Ibiza briefly but realised the environment was too triggering so soon into his recovery.
The situation grew even more dire in November. While in Dubai, he contracted a serious infection, flew home to the UK, and was diagnosed with chronic pneumonia. He was subsequently admitted to Basildon Hospital for a seven-week stay that he later called 'pure hell'.
"Where I came frighteningly close to death… twice," Lineker stated starkly in his video. The illness was so severe it left him unable to walk and forced him to spend Christmas Day in hospital, missing precious time with his family.
A Message of Hope and a Fresh Start
Despite the trauma, Lineker ended his narrative on a powerfully positive note. Filmed outdoors, he shared that he is now approaching six months sober and is fully committed to a healthy lifestyle.
He offered a message of solidarity to others struggling, declaring, "Going to rehab was the best decision of my life. If I can do it, so can you!" He expressed his gratitude to the medical staff at Basildon Hospital and, in a post on 28 December, celebrated being 'fully recovered' and finally free.
His candid post received an outpouring of support from friends and fans, including former Coronation Street star Kym Marsh, with nearly 20,000 people liking his update. Wayne Lineker's story is now one of resilience, serving as a stark warning about the perils of addiction and a beacon of hope for recovery as he looks ahead to 2026.
