English footballing icon Paul Gascoigne was reportedly rushed to hospital on Friday after collapsing while at home.
The Sun report that Gazza was found in a semi-conscious state by a friend in his bedroom in his house in Poole, Dorset.
The 58-year-old was admitted to the intensive care unit but fans will be relieved to hear that he has now been moved to an acute medical unit and is in a ‘stable condition.’
His friend Steve Foster, the man who found him, issued a brief statement on his behalf.
He said: ‘Gazza would like to thank everyone for the support he’s received so far from so many old friends who wish him well and want to see him back to his best’.
The England legend was ‘out of danger’ by Saturday night and is expected to continue his recovery in hospital for a number of days.
Paul Gascoigne was reportedly rushed to hospital on Friday after collapsing while at home
Gazza, whose health has been a cause for concern for many year, is in a stable condition
Foster, who also acts as Gascoigne’s driver and personal assistant, drove him to the hospital himself.
He added: ‘Paul is in hospital, which is the best possible place for him to be right now.’
Gascoigne’s health has been a cause for concern for a long time after years of struggles with alcohol addiction and mental health problems.
Earlier this year he gave a positive health update to The Mirror and said that he feels better than he has in years.
‘I feel better now than I have in years,’ he said. ‘I hope I am at a point that I can look back over everything I’ve gone through with a different, more positive, perspective.
‘After so many years in the spotlight, I feel like it’s time people got to know the real me.’
Gascoigne’s marriage to Sheryl, which ended in divorce in 1998, was marred by domestic violence claims.
His spell as manager of Kettering Town in 2005 lasted just 39 days, with Gascoigne’s alcohol problems a key factor.
The former attacking midfielder is regarded as one of the greatest English players of all time
In 2008 Gascoigne faced a bankruptcy petition regarding a tax bill of £200,000 as he hadn’t filed any tax returns for over two years.
However, in 2011 he avoided being declared bankrupt despite the fact that he still owed £32,000.
Gascoigne has frequently struggled with alcohol addiction and first attended therapy sessions in 1998.
In 2010 he was charged with drink driving and was sent to rehab, while he was given an eight-week suspended sentence.
Also that year he appeared on the scene during the stand-off between police and fugitive Raoul Moat.
In 2015 Gascoigne received a restraining order for harassing an ex-girlfriend and assaulting a photographer.
Gascoigne was capped 57 times by England between 1988 and 1998 and is regarded as one of the country’s greatest ever players.
He played for clubs including Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton.
