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David Ginola opens up on near-death experience to 'I'm A Celeb' campmates

STRICT EMBARGO - NO USAGE BEFORE 22:10 GMT, 22 Nov 2021 - EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/Shutterstock (12613476gq)
David Talks - David Ginola and Naughty Boy
'I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here!' TV Show, Series 21, Gwrych Castle, Wales, UK - 22 Nov 2021
David Ginola told Naughty Boy about his near-death experience. (ITV/Shutterstock)

David Ginola has opened up on his terrifying near-death experience to his I'm A Celebrity campmates, which saw him pass away on the pitch before doctors revived him.

The celebrities he is sharing camp with listened in fascination as he told the story of how he had suffered a heart attack while playing football.

Read more: Meet the I'm A Celebrity 2021 campmates

In Monday's episode, music producer Naughty Boy asked him: "Is it true...you died and came back?”

Ginola replied: “I passed away for 12 minutes.”

Watch: Who is I'm A Celeb's David Ginola

As Naughty Boy said: “I didn’t think that was possible,” Ginola explained what had happened at the charity match in 2016.

He said: “Just playing football and at one stage you just fall on the floor. So they have to perform CPR for 12 minutes and they arrive with the defibrillator and they shocked me one time, two times, three times… they said, ‘I think your friend is dead.’

"A fourth, fifth time… the fifth time, a heartbeat. Yeah… the surgeon said, ‘You’ve been very lucky David, it’s a miracle. In your condition, nine out of 10 would have died.’”

STRICT EMBARGO - NO USAGE BEFORE 22:10 GMT, 22 Nov 2021 - EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/Shutterstock (12613476hb)
David Talks - David Ginola
'I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here!' TV Show, Series 21, Gwrych Castle, Wales, UK - 22 Nov 2021
David Ginola shared his scary experience. (ITV/Shutterstock)

He added: “When you come back from that you just have your mind full of questions; ‘Is it a message, am I going back for a second life for a purpose?’

"Because when you’re fighting when you’re dead, you’re on the crossroads…there’s life and death.”

An impressed Richard Madeley said: "I guess some people just have an innately stronger survival instinct than other people.”

Read more: Naughty Boy is doing I'm A Celeb for his mum who has dementia

The 54-year-old French footballer, who played for Newcastle and Spurs, reflected on what had happened to him.

He said: "It’s one of a kind, because you don’t have any warnings. You could just walk like this and boom, fall over and it’s over. It is crazy when you think about it."

Meanwhile, Emmerdale actor Danny Miller admitted to having a "man crush" on Ginola as he watched him work out and chop wood for camp.

Watch: Who is I'm A Celeb's Richard Madeley?