Paul Gascoigne has revealed he thought he was going to die after a fall during the festive period left him with six broken ribs and punctured lungs. The former England midfielder, 58, was attempting to hang something up when he fell backwards, requiring major medical attention.
Speaking to Clutch 9, Gascoigne described his panic in hospital: 'I’m in agony obviously and they give me some pain relief. And then I just felt my neck getting bigger. I got the surgeon in quickly because I was panicking. And the surgeon came in and I went, "Please, please, tell me I’m not going to die." And he said, "I’m not going to tell you - you should have signed for Manchester United." He then walked back out of the room!'
Gascoigne, who has undergone 38 operations, admitted he was 'crying my eyes out' and feared he could see his father in the clouds. It is not his first health scare; in June he was rushed to hospital after being found semi-conscious at his home in Poole, Dorset, and was admitted to intensive care.
The former Tottenham and Newcastle star also spoke about his love for the modern game, saying he still wishes he could play. He remains a Newcastle fan and believes England can win the World Cup this summer, saying: 'We have the players to do it.'
