Phil Collins Opens Up About Moment His Children Thought They Were Saying Their Final Goodbye

Music legend Phil Collins has opened up about the frightening health crisis that nearly claimed his life, revealing that his five children were called to his bedside when doctors feared he would not survive.

The 75-year-old singer told The Sunday Times that he spent seven months in a Swiss hospital after suffering organ failure following a relapse into heavy drinking. During the ordeal, his family faced difficult decisions about whether to keep him on life support.

Recalling the experience, Collins said his kidneys began failing, and several of his organs started shutting down. As the situation worsened, his longtime manager contacted his children, believing they should prepare for the worst.

Although loved ones gathered around him, Collins said he has no memory of those emotional moments because of his condition. He later learned they had feared they would never see him again.

The musician was first admitted to hospital in November 2023 and was discharged shortly before Christmas. However, only weeks later, he was readmitted and placed in intensive care, where his condition became life-threatening.

Looking back, Collins described his recovery as nothing short of fortunate and revealed that the experience transformed his life. He said he has not touched alcohol since surviving the health scare.

Collins is the father of five children: Joely and Simon from his first marriage to Andrea Bertorelli, actress Lily Collins from his second marriage to Jill Tavelman, and sons Nicholas and Matthew with his third wife, Orianne Cevey.