Sir Alex Ferguson opens up on 2018 brain haemorrhage in new film

Manchester United great Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up on the struggles he faced recovering from a brain haemorrhage back in May 2018.

The legendary Scot collapsed at his home on May 5 and was immediately rushed to hospital for emergency surgery. He was well enough to attend his first match at Old Trafford since the incident in September of that year.

The events were detailed in the upcoming film Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In, in which the former boss admitted just how scared he was after being told there was 'an 80% chance' that he would not survive.

"There were five brain haemorrhages that day," Ferguson said (via BBC Sport). "Three died. Two survived. You know you are lucky.

"It was a beautiful day, I remember that. I wondered how many sunny days I would ever see again. I found that difficult.

"[When I got home] all the things were bottled up inside me. It was all opening up and spilling it all out. What you realise is, 'what happens when you die?'

"I don't remember anything. When I collapsed that Saturday morning, I have no idea what went on. People say I was sat up talking in Macclesfield Hospital before I went to Salford but I don't remember a thing. I am not sure, when the moment comes and you do die, whether it is the best way to go.

"The moments when you are on your own, there is that fear and loneliness that creeps into your mind. You don't want to die. That is where I was at. These things did flash through my mind quite a lot."

Ferguson also admitted he was scared he would lose his memory, and there was even a point in his recovery where he lost the ability to speak - something which also left the United icon terrified.

"I was trying to force it out but I couldn't get it out," he said. "One of the doctors came in and I was crying because I felt helpless.

"I would have hated to lose my memory. It would have been a terrible burden on my family, if I was sitting in the house not knowing who I am.

"Two doctors came in and said, 'write your family's names, your friends' names, your football teams' names, your players' names'. I just kept writing, writing and writing."

For more from ​Tom Gott, follow him on ​Twitter!