Gazza has no hopes left; friend predicts death within a year

Britain News.Net
Sunday 7th June, 2009 (ANI)

London, June 7: One of retired English footballer Paul Gascoigne's closest pals has said on Saturday that the soccer star, who suffers from pneumonia, alcoholism, mental illness and personal legal problems, will die within a year.

"Paul will have a complete organ breakdown," said Stephen Purdew.

Purdew reckons Gazza, who is undergoing therapy for bulimia, obsessive- compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and alcoholism, is in a far worse condition than George Best was a few months before he died.

"Just as I said about George, if Paul does not get his act together now, he will be dead within the year," Stephen said.

Stephen had cared for George Best at his Champneys health spa chain and made a grim prediction about Best less than a year before he suffered multiple organ failure in 2005, The Sun reported.

Stephen had arranged for Gazza's recent stint in rehab, in January and February ,at Tony Adams' Sporting Chance Clinic.

"Addiction can be conquered if you've got support around you. You can make more effort than Paul has. When you make no effort, there is no sympathy," he added.

Now he feels Gazza has wasted that opportunity, along with his many previous attempts to sort himself out.

Earlier, a home video clip of Gascoigne appeared in a documentary screened on Channel 4 called Surviving Gazza, which depicted his family's efforts in 2008 to help and rehabilitate him.

The conclusion at the end of the documentary was that their efforts had failed, and Paul's alcoholism had continued despite a stint in rehab.

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