Phil Collins revealed his children said what they thought were their final goodbyes to him when he was near death in 2024.
The musician, 75, spoke out about his seven-month hospitalization in a Swiss hospital due to organ failure in an interview with the Sunday Timespublished Sunday. The health crisis was brought on by him relapsing into heavy drinking.
Collins said his family had to make decisions about keeping him on life support, and that his longtime manager called his five kids to his bedside.
“My kidneys were packing up, my organs were just seizing up,” he noted. “People were coming to say goodbye.”
“But I don’t remember them coming. I didn’t have no idea this was going on,” he continued. “They were all worried that they wouldn’t see me again. It could all have gone so terribly wrong.”
Collins was first hospitalized in November 2023. He was discharged three days before Christmas, then just weeks later was checked back into the intensive care unit.
“I was very lucky to have come out of that,” he said. “Needless to say, I haven’t had a drink since.”
Collins’ five children include eldest daughter Joely, 53, and eldest son Simon, 49, whom he shares with his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli. The two were married from 1975 to 1979.
Collins welcomed daughter Lily, 37, with his second wife, Jill Tavelman. He and the actress were married for a decade before they split in 1994.
He shares son Nicholas, 25, as well as his youngest son, Matthew, 18, with his third wife, Orianne Cevey. Their divorce was finalized in 2008 after nine years of marriage.
The legendary drummer told the Sunday Times he’s open to a fourth wife.
“I’d love to be in love again,” he admitted. “I would love a relationship. Kissing somebody, for example. You know, pretty basic stuff.”
But Collins — who now lives in Switzerland with only a live-in nurse — isn’t sure it’s in the cards for him.
“I think it’s probably too late for that,” he mused. “I’m not a very social person. I don’t, you know, I don’t go out.”
The “In the Air Tonight” singer retired from touring in March 2022 after losing his drumming abilities. Collins has suffered from numerous health issues over the years, including dislocating vertebrae in his neck in 2007 that left nerve damage to his hands. He has used a cane since 2015, when he had back surgery.
Back in May, Collins said he was still toying with the idea of making new music and even possibly touring again despite his health woes over the years.
“I’m healthier now than I have been for quite a while. Whether or not I would go out again … I would contemplate,” he said during his appearance on “BBC Breakfast.”
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