Story by Sasha Morris
Phil Collins revealed his children were called to say their last goodbyes to him after he nearly drank himself to death two years ago. The singer, 75, admitted things could have gone “terribly wrong” back in April 2024 when he lay unconscious in a Swiss hospital, prompting his longstanding manager to summon his five children to his bedside to face some agonizing decisions.
Phil told The Sunday Times magazine: “Because there were some decisions to be made about ‘Do we keep Phil on life support?’ kind of thing. My kidneys were packing up, my organs were just seizing up. People were coming to say goodbye.
“But I don’t remember them coming; I didn’t have any idea this was going on. They were all worried that they wouldn’t see me again. It could all have gone so terribly wrong.”
Phil Collins on stage© Getty
Phil pulled through, though he continues to battle several health complications, including type 2 diabetes and nerve damage in his hands, and requires crutches to walk following numerous surgeries on his spine and knees. He welcomed 2026 surrounded by his loved ones at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in London.
He recalled of his daughter, Emily in Paris actress Lily Collins: “She was sitting beside me in tears, saying, ‘I never thought I’d get these moments.’ We had an incredible time. I can’t overemphasise how fantastic it was.”
Meanwhile, the In the Air Tonight hitmaker is eager to find love once more but fears he may have left it too late to meet a new partner. He confessed: “I’d love to be in love again. I would love a relationship. Kissing somebody, for example. You know, pretty basic stuff.
“I think it’s probably too late for that. I’m not a very social person. I don’t, you know, I don’t go out.”
In 2020, Phil was heartbroken when he learned that Orianne Cevey – who had divorced him in 2006 after seven years of marriage, before they reunited a decade later – had secretly wed another man, Thomas Bates, while they were still cohabiting.
But despite his anguish, he indicated he’d be willing to try to rekindle things with Orianne, who is no longer together with Thomas, as he revealed they are still in contact.
Revealing they remain in contact as co-parents to sons Nic, 25, and Matthew, 20, Phil said when questioned whether he’d like there to be more to their relationship: “Well, I’d like it to be. But I don’t think it’s a good idea right now. Just because I know what I’m like. I would probably fall again.
“Maybe. I mean, we were very much in love.”
