Friends star Matthew Perry reveals he nearly died and spent two weeks in a coma from drug abuse

Matthew Perry’s addiction struggles became so severe that he “nearly died” a few years ago when his colon burst from opioid overuse.

Matthew Perry’s addiction struggles became so severe that he “nearly died” a few years ago at the age of 49 when his colon burst from opioid overuse.

While the Friends star said at the time of his health scare that he suffered a “gastrointestinal perforation”, he now admits that he actually spent two weeks in a coma during a five-month stay in hospital and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months, Page Six reported.

“The doctors told my family that I had a two per cent chance to live,” he told People.

“I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that’s called a Hail Mary. No one survives that.”

Actor Matthew Perry. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Now 53, Perry will candidly discuss how much his drug and alcohol addictions consumed his life, in his new memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, which comes out on November 1.

“I’m pretty healthy now,” he told the magazine, before joking, “I’ve got to not go to the gym much more, because I don’t want to only be able to play superheroes. But no, I’m a pretty healthy guy right now.”

The star didn’t reveal how long he’s been sober for since last relapsing but said he still counts each day.

“It’s important, but if you lose your sobriety, it doesn’t mean you lose all that time and education,” he said.

Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox are seen on Friends. Picture: Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

“Your sober date changes, but that’s all that changes. You know everything you knew before, as long as you were able to fight your way back without dying, you learn a lot.”

Perry also said the 14 scars on his stomach — as well as the idea of wearing a colostomy bag for the rest of his life — serve as a reminder to never take Oxycontin again.

“All I have to do is look down,” he said.

This story was originally published by Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Friends star Matthew Perry reveals he nearly died and spent two weeks in a coma from drug abuse