Sum 41 frontman ‘in best shape of life’ a year after alcohol overdose

A YEAR after he almost killed himself from drinking too much booze, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley says he’s in “the best shape” of his life.

"If I have one drink the docs say I will die" ... Sum 21 band member Deryck Whibley, former husband of Avril Lavigne. Picture: deryckwhibley.net

A YEAR after he almost killed himself from drinking too much alcohol, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley says he’s in “the best shape” of his life.

Whibley was placed in a coma after collapsing in his kitchen with a drink in his hand last April.

He was rushed to hospital, where doctors said his liver and kidneys had failed from years of serious alcohol abuse.

How years of partying caught up with @Sum41's Deryck Whibley and almost left him for dead: http://t.co/v5ebSSYOK4 pic.twitter.com/OexS5n4JQi

— Noisey (@NoiseyMusic) April 8, 2015

He was kept in hospital over a month while his body detoxed from booze.

In an interview with Vice’s music channel Noisey, Whibley said he was “healthier” and on the mend.

He shared an image of himself looking pale and gaunt, wearing a flat cap and sunglasses.

The ex-husband of Avril Lavigne said his alcoholism spiralled out of control when he started to drink away his hangovers.

“That cycle is really hard to break and it got me to this place,” he said.

Whibley said his band’s constant touring and hectic schedule didn’t help his addiction issues.

“It’s a lot of stress, it’s a tough lifestyle. It’s hard to go at that pace without using something to cope,” he told Noisey.

Before the crash ... Deryck Whibley and fiancee Arianna Cooper dressed up as Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger for Hallowee in 2012.

“I drank to wake me up and get that fake energy. There were a lot of times I didn’t even want to drink, but I was so tired that shots of Jack were all I could do to get on stage.”

Whibley said he woke up a week after he was admitted to hospital and “figured I was in rough shape”.

“The doctors said I was lucky to be alive and that there was still a chance I could die,” he said.

Whibley, who suffered internal bleeding and muscle atrophy on the road to recovery, said doctors have told him he can never drink again.

Long battle ... Deryck Whibley, who was formerly married to singer Avril Lavigne, partied hard for years.

“Mentally, I don’t even want to drink again anyway,” he says, “If I literally hadn’t done it to death, I might feel like I’ll be missing something, but I’m not missing anything. I’m done with it. I’ve definitely had enough and it’s not even really that fun.”

Whibley is now focused on getting his life back together with the help of his two strongest supporters — his fiancee Arianna Cooper and his mother.

“I’m glad it happened now and not when I’m like, 50, because my body wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

“It’s unfortunate it had to come to that. However, now I’m feeling better than I’ve ever felt. I’m healthier ... I’m more productive. Well, I was always really productive, but I was just good at being a functional alcoholic.”

Originally published as Sum 41 frontman ‘in best shape of life’ a year after alcohol overdose