Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FOOTBALL LEGEND’S FIGHT FOR LIFE
Wilkins, 61, in coma after cardiac arrest
FOOTBALL legend Ray Wilkins was last night in an induced coma after suffering a cardiac arrest and fall at home.
The 61-year-old’s wife, Jackie, said: “He is not in a good state at all. He’s critically ill.”
RAY Wilkins’ family were keeping a bedside vigil as the football legend fought for his life last night.
The former England midfielder, 61, suffered a cardiac arrest and fall at home before doctors decided to put him in an induced coma.
His anxious wife Jackie told the Daily Mirror: “He’s in hospital, he’s had a cardiac arrest and is in intensive care.
“He is not in a good state at all, I’m afraid. He’s critically ill.
“The cardiac arrest led to a fall which has meant he’s had to be put in an induced coma. It’s very, very bad.”
Former Manchester United and Chelsea star Ray was rushed to hospital on Wednesday after collapsing at his £2.6million property in Cobham, Surrey.
Hours earlier, he had appeared on Alan Brazil’s Talksport breakfast show, on which he is a regular pundit.
And he was seen on Sky Sports on Sunday, giving his verdict ahead of tomorrow’s clash between Chelsea and Spurs at Stamford Bridge. Ray is being treated at St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, South London, which boasts one of the country’s top trauma units.
Loved ones are hopeful a scan next week will bring some positive news.
Jackie added: “It’s a very difficult time for the family. He’s going to have a further scan on Tuesday.
“We hope to have an update then. It’s been a very difficult time for us.”
Ray, who had double heart bypass surgery last year, met Jackie when she was secretary for then Chelsea manager Eddie Mccreadie.
They had been married for just six weeks when the cash-strapped and relegated club accepted an offer from Manchester United.
Jackie remained at his side through the highs and lows of his career, including when he received his MBE at Buckingham Palace in 1993.
Ray, known by the nickname “Butch” since childhood, was a permanent fixture in the England side for a decade from the mid-1970s, winning 84 caps and scoring three goals.
The product of a footballing family, he and his three brothers followed their father, George, into the game, but Ray enjoyed the most success. Starting his
career at Chelsea in 1973, his reputation grew after being handed the captaincy, aged just 18, before he went on to join Manchester United six years later.
Spells abroad at AC Milan and Paris Saint-germain followed before he came back to Britain to join Rangers and later Queens Park Rangers –where he became player-manager – and Crystal Palace.
Ray’s last job in football came in 2015 when he was appointed assistant manager at Aston Villa, before being sacked with boss Tim Sherwood.
He has kept himself in the public eye by appearing a pundit on Sky Sports, the BBC and Talksport radio. In recent years, Ray has battled booze and problems with his health.
He admitted being an alcoholic and sought professional help in 2013 after a drink-drive conviction – the first of three in as many years.
In an emotional interview the following year, Ray laid bare his long struggle with depression.
Realising he needed to climb out of a “deep, dark hole,” he booked himself into the renowned Sporting Chance Clinic, set up by former Arsenal defender Tony Adams. Ray said the prospect of destroying his marriage and inflicting further hurt on grown-up children, Ross, 36, and Jade, 32, convinced him he needed to change his ways.
He said at the time: “Footballers who think they are something special are making a terrible mistake.
“I always told my kids I’m nobody but their dad. But I just don’t cope well with rejection. I had depression when I left QPR. I went to see a doctor linked to The Priory at the time.
“I was lucky enough to play until I was 40, 41. But when time decided I could no longer continue, I struggled in a way I’m sure a lot of sportsmen do. It’s hard to replace what sport gives you. “But I didn’t take any medication at that stage. I’ve been on medication for depression for the past two years but back then I saw the doctor and then simply battled on.”
He also opened up about being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a condition which left him in hospital for 12 days in 2008 after he rapidly lost two-and-a-half stone.
Ray said: “At one point the surgeon said I might have to have my colon out. I was 51 and really didn’t want a bag. Luckily I started to improve the next day.” In July last year Ray had double heart bypass surgery.
Doctors found he had blocked coronary arteries after noticing his blood pressure was high when he attended hospital for a routine hayfever jab.