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'Thought it was lights out '- Rio Ferdinand breaks silence on 'mad virus' that saw Man Utd legend rushed to hospital and forced off air

Premier League

Chelsea

Manchester United

<p>Former Manchester United star and TV pundit Ferdinand was supposed to be a part of TNT Sports' coverage of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain last week, but he missed the show <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/rio-ferdinand-hospitalised-man-utd-legend-pundit-misses-tnt-sports-coverage-arsenal-champions-league-semi-final-psg/blt022420b8cd37a795#csb6ab8f44c50409ff" target="_blank">after being rushed to the hospital</a>. A couple of hours before kick-off, Ferdinand wrote on social media: "Gutted to be missing the Semi-Finals this week on @footballontnt!! Wishing the team all the best — I’ll be watching every minute from the iPad!"</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>The 46-year-old has finally broken his silence on his health condition and revealed how he has endured a harrowing experience. Ferdinand claimed he even feared for his life at one point after being rushed to hospital with a serious illness.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Speaking on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvKQuG6ObLk&amp;ab_channel=RioFerdinandPresents" target="_blank"><em>Rio Ferdinand Presents</em></a> podcast, the Red Devils icon said: "I had a mad virus. I thought lights were out at some point, I thought it was gonna happen. I thought I was minutes away from lights out, seriously. I was in my house, I was in my bed like this [pained expression] and I couldn't even open my eyes. Then, the headache I had… I don't get migraines or nothing else so I don't know what they're like. I thought my head was in a vice and my eyes were going to pop out.</p><p>"Then, I was being sick, projectile vomiting in the toilet, I got back to bed and I was having vertigo. I was holding onto the sheets, I didn't know where I was. It was crazy."</p><p>He added: "I had to go to hospital and the doctor even said to me, 'Do you want an ambulance'? So that's when I knew. He went, 'We're going to get your brain scanned'. I thought it was a virus or a flu or something so when he mentioned brain scan and the ambulance, the panic was nuts. I went to hospital and I was in there for a few days. I couldn't even enjoy the hospital food. The soup and the ice cream normally does wonders."</p>

WHAT RIO FERDINAND SAID

<p>Ferdinand is now recovering and will no doubt hope to resume punditry duties soon. His former Manchester United team have endured a disastrous Premier League campaign but do have a Europa League final clash against Tottenham Hotspur to look forward to on May 21.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

'Thought it was lights out '- Rio Ferdinand breaks silence on 'mad virus' that saw Man Utd legend rushed to hospital and forced off air | Goal.com

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has spoken out after being hospitalised last week due to a &apos;mad virus&apos; that left him fearing for his life.

&apos;Thought it was lights out &apos;- Rio Ferdinand breaks silence on &apos;mad virus&apos; that saw Man Utd legend rushed to hospital and forced off air

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