Liverpool legend Ian Rush has revealed just how frightening a recent health crisis was for him, admitting there was a moment he genuinely feared for his life. The club’s all-time top scorer found himself in hospital earlier this month after suddenly collapsing at his home.
The 64-year-old was rushed to the Countess of Chester Hospital on December 11 and spent two days in intensive care after being struck by what doctors called a severe bout of infection. Rush described struggling to breathe and how the experience left him thinking, “This could be it.”
His partner, Carol, quickly called for help when his condition worsened in the night, and even after an initial improvement, he collapsed again and needed an emergency second admission. The former striker later reflected that the ordeal was terrifying and forced him to confront his own mortality.
Thankfully, after five days in hospital care, Rush was well enough to go home. But the scare has made him reassess priorities and ensure his personal affairs are in order if something were to happen.
This health challenge came on the heels of a difficult period for Rush, who recently lost his brother and also missed the funeral of former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota due to timing clashes.
Despite all this, Rush has received overwhelming support from the Liverpool family, with club staff encouraging him to take time off to recover properly.
Even now, he continues to be honoured within the broader football community — attending events like the World Sports Summit in Dubai and serving as a jury member at the Globe Soccer Awards, where a special memorial award for Jota was presented.
Looking back on his career, Rush said he takes great pride in his achievements — including scoring 346 goals for Liverpool, a tally that keeps him atop the club’s scoring charts.
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