Doherty in 'Heart Failure' Health Scare

2 months ago 25th Nov 03:45

British rocker Pete Doherty was hooked up to a life support machine last month (Oct09) after his heart stopped beating in a poisoning scare.

The former Libertines frontman was forced to cancel a string of dates after falling seriously ill, while his representatives told the press he had been hospitalised for "exhaustion" in Swindon, England.

It was a really strange turn of events

But Doherty tells Nme.com his condition was much more grave - he experienced heart failure.

He explains, "If I hadn't been on a life support machine I'd have been in Ireland. But my heart stopped. It was a really strange turn of events. Obviously, their (the doctors') immediate thought was that it was to do with drugs, but it wasn't - it was some kind of poisoning. What happened?

Well, I don't know, I don't remember. I thought I was a taxi driver offering to take everyone to Elephant and Castle (in south London). I was running into the walls, making steering wheel signs with my hands. And then I just stopped. My body just stopped.

"I woke up and the doctors were asking, 'Do you know your name?' I said, 'Yeah, Peter.' And they said, 'Do you know where you are?'

 I said, 'Well, I'm in a hospital.' It was like 20 Questions". Doherty admits doctors are still concerned about his heart rate - but he believes he'll be well enough for Babyshambles' live shows in December (09), adding "A tour's just what the doctor ordered".