Paul Gascoigne came 'back from the dead' when doctors restarted his heartin rehab.
The former England star was admitted to a clinic in Arizona in 2013. Chris Evans, Alan Shearer and Danny Baker rallied round to help him at the'lowest point' in his lifedue to his addiction to alcohol.
He was in an induced coma for 18 days and had an injection into his heart which doctors said had kept him alive. Yet rumours of his demise were so widespread that a complete stranger told Gazza 'I thought you were dead' when he arrived back in the UK.
In an interview to promote his memoir 'Eight' with Mirror Books, he said: "Looking back at what happened in Arizona, when I died on the operating table, that was really scary.
"The doctors said they were able to get me back. I came around and I was doped up to f***. I eventually got on the phone to my family and said: "It is OK, I am through it, I have recovered.
"But I always remember coming back to Newcastle and seeing a woman in the street.
"She stopped and stared at me, she almost fainted. She said: 'I thought you were dead'. I said: 'Of course I am not f***in dead."
He said the encounter was the result of a fake report of his death that spread online. It had been going all round that 'Gazza had died'," he said.
"I later found out that people were receiving text messages in stadiums. They were saying that I was dead," Paul, 58, recalled. "So the woman looked like she had seen a ghost."
He added: "I tell you what, if I had gone to any other rehab, I think that I would have been dead. I could not remember much of it afterwards. When I relapse, I go cold turkey because I want to feel the pain.
"In Arizona, it did scare me, but I did not feel the effects because I was drugged up.
"I stayed for an extra two weeks; I still go back sometimes, even when I am fine, just to remind myself of how bad it was.
"They told me that I had died, I was still wobbly on the drugs.
"I was sedated and in a coma for 18 days and I came around and I did not know what day it was."
The former Newcastle Utd, Spurs, Lazio, Rangers and Everton star returned to the UK from rehab in the US in 2013 and settled on the south coast.
Initially, he settled close to a clinic in Bournemouth, before moving to Poole, Dorset, where he now spends his time doing audiences with fans, keeping fit and fishing.
His memoir, 'Eight', published by Mirror books, gives a brutally honest account of his battle with alcoholism, But there are also funny stories of his life as a player, growing up on Tyneside, and the early days of his career.
He admits that legendary Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson never forgave him for joining Spurs when he left Newcastle Utd in 1988.
He told Fergie that he would sign before the Scot went off on holiday - then signed for Tottenham after his dad changed his mind.
Gazza joked: "I was back at Old Trafford recently and Fergie gave me a a right rollicking about that.
"He said "I cannot believe you said 'go on holiday and enjoy it' and then you joined Spurs.
"It was like being in the military and being hammered by a sergeant major.
" Terry Venables went to Barcelona and loved it so he said that I should try playing abroad.
"So I would not have gone to Lazio if I had joined Man Utd. I got married and divorced, I have let down my family at times, but overall there are few regrets.
"There is no point in looking back like that."
He reflects on his life on and off the pitch, and tells me: "I have the keys to the city of Newcastle, I am an ambassador for the England football team, they say I am a national treasure. The fans still love me so I have been very lucky."
He has no plans to go to the World Cup next year, and says of England's chances: "It is easy winning 5-0 against minnows. Playing the Italians, Portuguese, French, will be completely different.
"The WAGS get more publicity than the players now, probably three times as much. At Italia '90, Bobby Robson would not let us watch TV, make calls, or read the newspapers. In Qatar, the players were going out with their wives and into restaurants.
"Not all the players, the 24 of them, will have marriages that are perfect. So there is a balance to be had. One thing is certain, every player has to be at the highest level at the World Cup, every single one of them.
"You cannot carry anyone, so they will need to be at their very best if we are going to win it."
*Paul Gascoigne Eight (published by Reach Sport) is on sale October 23rd. Pre Order on Amazon now.
