Tottenham and Rangers legend Paul Gascoigne feared for his life after being involved in a car crash in Newcastle that left him hospitalised.

The former Tottenham and England footballer appeared in good health as he and his best friend Jimmy 'Five Bellies' Gardner left his house yesterday.

Gazza was one of three people in the Vauxhall Astra who were taken to hospital and a 36-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and bailed.

The former midfielder, who had been out drinking that night, is believed to have suffered a punctured lung and had severe facial injuries but he discharged himself on Friday and yesterday made a Father's Day visit to his dad John, 64.

A family friend told the Daily Mail: "He knows just how lucky he's been. He reckons he's on his ninth life. That means he's run out of lucky breaks so he's got to start taking care of himself.

"We hope this is the wake-up call he needs to turn his life around."