Phil Collins (75) speaks openly about life-threatening alcoholism: 'My children came to say goodbye'

British pop and rock icon Phil Collins, 75, has revealed the severity of his past struggles with alcoholism, describing a near-fatal incident two years ago. The former Genesis frontman was admitted to a Swiss hospital unconscious due to excessive alcohol use, prompting his manager to call his five children to come and say goodbye. "I was incredibly lucky to have pulled through," Collins told The Sunday Times. He recounted that his kidneys failed and his organs began to shut down, leading to critical decisions about life support. Collins has little memory of the event, stating, "I don't remember my children coming and I had no idea all this was going on. They were all afraid they wouldn't see me again. It could have gone so terribly wrong." Collins, who has five children from three marriages, including actress Lily Collins, has been sober since the incident. "It goes without saying that I haven't touched a drop of alcohol since then," he stated. This was not his first battle with alcohol; he previously spoke in 2015 about drinking heavily after his third divorce in 2006, admitting it "almost became fatal." He sought help with Antabuse, a medication that induces severe illness if alcohol is consumed, but relapsed after stopping it. His excessive alcohol consumption has left lasting health issues. He spent over six months in the hospital in 2023 with permanent damage to his pancreas and kidneys, which now function poorly. Additionally, Collins has faced other health problems, including multiple back and knee surgeries that leave him reliant on crutches. Nerve damage prevents him from holding a drumstick, and he also has type 2 diabetes. A nurse now assists him daily with his medication, and he appears infrequently in public.

“

I was incredibly lucky to have pulled through.