Londonderry-born footballer Darron Gibson has opened up out about suffering a seizure three years ago, as the former Manchester United and Everton midfielder spoke about his mental health struggles during his playing career at the top.
Gibson, who represented the Republic of Ireland on the international stage, suffered a seizure while watching the Manchester derby at his home in England three years ago.
Speaking about what happened, Gibson’s wife Danielle told the Sunday Times: “He had gone so stiff and the sweat was dripping from him and he was biting chunks out of his tongue.
“I was trying to stop him doing that, but I couldn’t lift him. His body was so wet and his eyes were like a roulette machine, they were whirring around so fast.
“It lasted about three minutes and then there was a stillness.
“His lips turned blue and I thought he had died.
“I just thought, in a really sad way, that whatever demons he has been living with, he is at peace now.”
Gibson was swiftly taken to a Manchester hospital, where he spent two days under observation.
“They were doing brain scans and epilepsy scans,” the 36-year-old said.
“I knew deep down what happened, but I was too embarrassed to tell them.
“Finally I said: ‘Listen, it’s not that.’ I had taken 12 sleeping tablets the night before and about six more before I sat down to watch the match.”
Darron Gibson won 27 Republic of Ireland caps
Regarding his seizure, Gibson said it came about after an injury, when he broke his leg. A delay in surgery led to him becoming reliant on prescription medication. In Gibson’s case it was Zopiclone, which he used to help him sleep.
Zopiclone is usually only available on prescription.
“If you have got the money and the connections you can get whatever you want,” Gibson said.
Following his seizure, his wife Danielle gave him an ultimatum — telling the newspaper it was either that the footballer gave up the tablets or he would lose his wife and children.
“I was expecting him to give me a packet of sleeping tablets,” Danielle said.
“He brought out a plastic carrier bag and just said: ‘There you go.’”
About what happened next, Gibson said: ”I didn’t sleep for a month. Literally I could not get to sleep. I was going to bed, just lying there thinking ‘f***’, but I knew I had to do it.
“I was grey. I looked horrific.”
When asked where he would be if he had not given up his addiction, Gibson added: “I would be dead. If I hadn’t had the seizure, I possibly would not be here now, I was taking that many of them.”