Collins' Personal Health Battle
Phil Collins opens up about 2024 near-fatal alcohol battle and difficult recovery.
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Key Points
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Collins’ five children — Joely, Simon, Lily, Nic and Mathew — were rushed to his hospital bedside as doctors debated whether to keep him on life support after his organs began failing in 2024; he says he does not remember their visits.
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He is living in Switzerland near Lake Geneva in a five-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion with a live-in nurse, a setting he notes as part of his recovery and ongoing health management.
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Collins and Paul McCartney have reportedly reconciled after a long-running 2016-era Rift, with McCartney donating memorabilia to a charity auction as part of their renewed relationship.
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Nerve damage in his hands has left him unable to drum, compounding other health issues such as Type 2 diabetes and kidney problems, with doctors signaling that these conditions could affect touring possibilities.
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A notable public moment of family renewal occurred at the end of 2025/beginning of 2026, when Collins celebrated New Year surrounded by family in London at the Mandarin Oriental, with daughter Lily Collins visibly emotional about the prospect of more time together.
Phil Collins came close to death in 2024 after a relapse into alcohol abuse sent his organs into failure, forcing doctors to debate whether to keep him on life support, according to The Independent. The Genesis frontman, now 75, says he has not had a drink since late 2023 and spent seven months in intensive care at a Swiss hospital — a stretch of time he largely cannot remember.
"People came to say goodbye," Collins said, recalling that his five children flew to his bedside as medics weighed pulling the plug. He has no memory of those visits. He now lives in a mansion near Lake Geneva in Switzerland, supported by a live-in nurse, and walks only with crutches.
Organs Failed After Years-Long Sobriety Ended
Collins had been sober for several years before he started drinking again, according to Yahoo News. The relapse triggered a rapid medical collapse. His organs began failing, and he was rushed to a hospital in Switzerland. Doctors faced a critical decision about life support. His children — Joely, Simon, Lily, Nic, and Mathew — were all called in.
He spent seven months in intensive care. "I don't remember them coming," Collins said of his children's bedside visits. The memory gaps are a lasting reminder of how close he came to not surviving. Since the end of 2023, he has stayed completely sober.
Nerve Damage, Diabetes, and a Life on Crutches
The health toll from Collins' crisis runs deep. He has nerve damage in both hands, which has robbed him of the ability to drum. He also has Type 2 diabetes and kidney problems, according to AOL. Doctors have flagged these conditions as major obstacles to any future touring.
Collins now uses crutches to get around and has a full-time nurse living with him at his five-bedroom, five-bathroom home near Lake Geneva. The Swiss retreat has become the center of his recovery. Despite the limitations, he has spoken about perseverance and a desire to keep looking forward.
Family Rallies Around Collins at New Year Celebration
A visible sign of renewal came at the turn of 2025 into 2026, when Collins celebrated New Year with family at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in London. Daughter Lily Collins was seen visibly emotional, moved by the prospect of more time with her father, according to The Independent.
The gathering underscored a broader theme of reconnection in Collins' life. He has also reportedly patched things up with Paul McCartney, mending a rift that dated back to around 2016. McCartney donated memorabilia to a charity auction as a gesture of their renewed relationship.
Collins Opens Up About Longing for Love Again
Beyond his health battles, Collins has spoken candidly about loneliness. He said he longs to be in love again and is open to companionship after years of living largely alone, according to Yahoo News. It is a rare personal admission from an artist who has spent decades in the spotlight.
At 75, Collins appears to be taking stock of what matters most. He nearly lost his life. He has lost the ability to drum. But he is still here, sober, surrounded by family, and — by his own account — still hopeful about what comes next.
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