The mancityfans.net football forum

EXCLUSIVE: Merson 'lucky to survive' drink-drive smash
Published 00:01 13/10/11 By Richard Smith

England footballer Paul Merson has been arrested for suspected drink-driving after he cheated death in a motorway smash.

The Sky Sports pundit admits he fell asleep at the wheel of his £40,000 Mercedes before crashing into the central reservation and a lorry.

Merson, 43, was arrested after being given a breath test on the hard shoulder of the M40 shortly after 3am on Wednesday.

He escaped from the 70mph crash with facial injuries and was taken to hospital where police took blood samples for analysis.


He left hospital with bloodstains on his suit and white shirt. Stitches covered a wound above his left eye.

Merson, who played for England 21 times, told the Mirror: “I fell asleep and just hit the central reservation. I banged my head on the windscreen and the car is a write-off.

"I’m very lucky to have survived.

“I managed to get out by myself and the emergency services were brilliant.

“Now I just want to get home and have some rest.”

A source said: “He had not been wearing a seatbelt and the car spun round at least once before it ploughed into the central reservation.

“He was very fortunate to get out alive. The roadside breath test proved positive and the blood tests have been sent away for analysis.”

Former Arsenal forward Merson had been driving home to Sutton Coldfield from a Children in Need charity gala in London, attended by Sir Terry Wogan.

Twice-married Merson crashed after nodding off near Warwick.

His wrecked Mercedes ML350 was taken by a recovery truck to a vehicle compound in Leamington Spa.

A police spokeswoman said: “We received a report of an accident on the M40 northbound between J14 and 15 at 3.12am this morning involving a black Mercedes ML350 and a lorry.

“Following a roadside breath test, the 43-year-old male driver of the Mercedes was arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol.

“He was taken to Warwick Hospital for treatment to a cut to the head. A blood sample was taken for analysis.”

Dad-of-five Merson was allowed home six hours after being admitted.

The lorry driver, who is in his 50s, suffered whiplash injuries during the crash. He was recovering at home on Wednesday night after hospital treatment.

Merson, who won five trophies at Arsenal during a glittering career with the North London club, has admitted his life off the field was a “p*****-up mess”.

He was addicted to booze and drugs and says he blew £7million at the bookies.

In a book this year he admitted he still gambled and had occasional alcohol relapses but said it was under control.

He said his addiction spiralled in 1998 when he lived with troubled England midfielder Paul Gascoigne while they played for Middlesbrough.

Merson said: “We were the original screwed up couple. It was like a time-bomb waiting to go off – but it was a laugh.

“Gaz was an alcoholic and a nutter. I was an alcoholic and a compulsive gambler with a history of Class A drugs.”

"I’m very lucky to have survived."

Kladze wrote:

"I’m very lucky to have survived."

So was every other fucker in the vicinity you utter CUNT .

carl_feedthegoat wrote:This cunt needs locking up....and I'm not talking just about this incident..but for all the SHITE hes spouted over the years about us.

Village fucking spastic he is.

mcfc1632 wrote:
With you on this - but at the very least I hope that is him off our TV screens - very bitter twat

Kladze wrote:

"I’m very lucky to have survived."

So was every other fucker in the vicinity you utter CUNT .

carl_feedthegoat wrote:This cunt needs locking up....and I'm not talking just about this incident..but for all the SHITE hes spouted over the years about us.

Village fucking spastic he is.

Ted Hughes wrote:

carl_feedthegoat wrote:This cunt needs locking up....and I'm not talking just about this incident..but for all the SHITE hes spouted over the years about us.

Village fucking spastic he is.

Thank you 'x' rated Yoda.

"Everyone is very unlucky I have survived."

Crossie wrote:So was he drunk or not?

Why the FUCK wasnt he wearing a seatbelt? In a car like that, even at 70mph a seatbelt along with an airbag for everything including your cock and balls would make it very unlikely he "cheated death", drama queen.

The fact that someone with his ability only managed 21 England caps proves that he totally fucked up his life and career for 15 years. He is no fucking role model and should not be on our screens.

Wonderwall wrote:

Crossie wrote:So was he drunk or not?

Why the FUCK wasnt he wearing a seatbelt? In a car like that, even at 70mph a seatbelt along with an airbag for everything including your cock and balls would make it very unlikely he "cheated death", drama queen.

The fact that someone with his ability only managed 21 England caps proves that he totally fucked up his life and career for 15 years. He is no fucking role model and should not be on our screens.

Sadly, I saw the news report on this and said "YES" and my missus looked at me and said thats not very nice, I said neither is that prick and when she realised who it was she said, ooooh he's the one who hates City isnt he!

It was only a matter of time merson, off to talksport for you with the other fucktard rejects

Crossie wrote:Why the FUCK wasnt he wearing a seatbelt? In a car like that, even at 70mph a seatbelt along with an airbag for everything including your cock and balls would make it very unlikely he "cheated death", drama queen.