Former England star Gascoigne found after going missing

BOURNEMOUTH

The 46-year-old ex-Newcastle footballer, who left rehab in the United States earlier this year, was held after an incident in Hertfordshire linked to excessive use of alcohol on July, 5. DHA Photo

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that former England international midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been found semi-comatose in London and was taken to a private hospital.

“Gazza's" family claimed that their son went missing after he ran away from rehab in Bournemouth, and was later arrested for an alleged drunken assault at a railway station, daily The Sun reported today.

The 46-year-old ex-Newcastle footballer, who left rehab in the United States earlier this year, was held after an incident in Hertfordshire linked to excessive use of alcohol on July 5.

After he ran away from the facility, his family and friends pleaded with him to return to rehab in Bournemouth. He had planned to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with a close friend on July 8, but headed to London instead.

He was later found, slumped and drunk on a London street, and was taken to hospital by a group of people. He subsequently went missing again after being discharged from hospital.

After being found drunk in London again today he promised not to drink alcohol again, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Sun ran a headline on its front page today requesting that pubs and shopkeepers do not sell any drinks to Gascoigne.