Liverpool legend Ian Rush has heaped praise on his model fiancée, Carol Anthony, for helping him through the 'superflu' which made him believe he 'was a goner'.
Rush, 64, was taken to hospital earlier this month and spent around 48 hours in intensive care after collapsing due to breathing difficulties in his home in Cheshire.
The Reds' all-time leading goalscorer has told the Mirror that he woke up at 2am to make a cup of tea because he was 'struggling to breathe', with an appointment with the doctor already booked for later in the morning.
But his condition worsened in the early hours of the morning, which led to an ambulance being called. He was treated by paramedics for an hour and a half, before 'feeling better' and turning down the opportunity to go to hospital.
However, within 10 minutes of the ambulance leaving the premises, Rush collapsed once more, this time leaving him feeling as though he 'wasn't going to survive'.
'It was frightening, and I honestly thought I wasn't going to survive, Rush told the Mirror. 'I was on the floor gasping for breath. I honestly thought this was it; I was a goner. I was panicking.'
The second ambulance is said to have arrived much later, and Rush said the words of his partner, Carol, a 42-year-old singer from Ireland, helped him through the terrifying ordeal.
'But while we were waiting for another ambulance, Carol got me through it all by telling me how to try and calm down and breathe more easily. She was fantastic.
'When the ambulance people came, I was on the floor completely white and looking as if I needed to be resuscitated. I needed oxygen to help me get through a terrifying experience.
'Eventually, they got me into the ambulance to take me to the Countess of Chester hospital just a few miles away with the blue light activated. I was in A&E for 48 hours and in a general ward for three days after that before being allowed home.'
The 'superflu' epidemic has surged throughout the country and has seen hospitals across Britain declare critical incidents.
Health bosses believe this winter could see the UK face its worst flu season on record, while cases are also spiking across Europe.
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has declared a critical incident at four hospitals due to 'exceptional' numbers of patients with flu.
Elsewhere, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust also declared a 'critical incident' while Royal Stoke Hospital and Stafford County Hospital said they were experiencing 'extremely high demand'. Patients have been asked to use A&E only for life-threatening conditions.
Thankfully, Rush, who scored 346 goals across all competitions in his two spells at Liverpool, responded well to treatment and was back home in time for Christmas.
The Welshman puts that down to the support of Carol, whom he has been in a long-term relationship with since the break down of his marriage with Tracey Rush in 2012, and his former club.
'Carol stayed by my bedside every night without fail,' he added. 'Liverpool Football Club were fantastic and provided the support and love which made everything so much better.
'They are a family club after all, and that's what counts in times like this. LFC went above and beyond.'
Rush was a key component of Liverpool’s dominance in the 1980s. He spent two trophy-laden spells at the club, sandwiching a move to Italian giants Juventus.
With 73 caps, he was Wales’ leading scorer with 28 goals until his record was broken by Gareth Bale in 2018.