Paul Gascoigne feared he would die after suffering broken ribs and punctured lungs in fall

Paul Gascoigne admits he thought he was going to die after a fall during the festive period as he was left in tears whilst in hospital.

The England icon has revealed he fell backwards whilst attempting to hang something up, but the fall had serious ramifications and he needed major medical attention. Gascoigne broke six ribs and punctured several of his lungs and sought reassurance from the medics as he feared his life was going to be over.

He told

: "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! I couldn't see where he’s gone because my cheeks were up with my eyes as they'd all swelled up and I was like ‘please, please tell us.’ I could see my dad in the clouds and I was really panicking. I've had 38 operations so this normally doesn't bother me but this time I was really s******g myself. I was saying, ‘please get the surgeon.’ I was crying my eyes out!"

It isn't Gazza's first health scare, as recently as June the ex-Tottenham and Newcastle star was rushed to hospital after he was found semi-conscious by a friend in the bedroom of his home at Poole, Dorset. The 58-year-old was admitted to an intensive care ward but was later moved to an acute medical unit.

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Gascoigne was one of the game's great mavericks, but remains one of England's most talented players. He admits he struggles to watch as much of the modern game because he still longs to be tying up his boots and playing, but Newcastle remain his side.

"I don't really watch football as much because I still wish I could play," he claimed. "I still miss playing, even at my age and the amount of operations I've had. So yeah, I've enjoyed watching Newcastle play. I'm more like a fan."

The playmaker was part of an England side that reached the last four of the World Cup - the nation's best effort since 1966. He did so back in 1990 and believes the current group are capable of finally ending the wait this summer.

"We've been saying since 1966 that we're going to win the World Cup," he said. "We've got the players to do it. I think the World Cup, especially when you come to the quarter finals and semi finals and that, every player's got to play their best. You cannot afford to carry anybody because these teams now are getting stronger and stronger and better and better. We have the players to win the World Cup."

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