Paul Gascoigne opens up on horrifying childhood tragedy where young boy died on his lap

Former England star Paul Gascoigne has opened up about the harrowing incident in his childhood where a young boy died in his lap.

The tragic circumstance came when he was aged just 10 and looking after his friend's younger brother, aged eight, who was hit by a car.

The child, who had run on ahead of Gascoigne after they had gone to the shops.

Recalling the heartbreaking event, a visibly emotional Gascoigne detailed to Good Morning Britain: 'His [friend younger brother wouldn't go to the boys' club, and I said I'd look after him. He was only eight and I was 10.

'We left the shop and I said, "Quick, come on, run, let's go". He ran in front of us one yard, and the car just hit him.

'I ran down and he died in my lap. I thought he was still alive because his lips moved a bit. I went, "He's OK, he's breathing," but he wasn't. That was his last movement.'

The former Newcastle and Tottenham midfielder went into further detail about he couldn't leave the child's side, even when he was in his coffin.

'I picked him up out of the coffin at only 10, and I remember him being freezing.

'When the coffin left, I went and stayed with them again, in that same room for a week. I was only 10, and I was staying in the same room with a coffin; it was horrific.'

Football proved to Gascoigne's solace, helping to distract him from that distressing experience - which he misses 'badly' now.

'I ended up with noises and twitches, and I said I refused to go and see him any more,' he continued.

'It wasn't until I really started getting involved with football that it started getting my mind off of everything.

'I was upset. I went every night. I took a ball with us. I slept with the football.

'Playing the game took you out of this nightmare. I couldn't wait for Saturday because when I was on the pitch, where I think I was so good, those 90 minutes were my time on the pitch.'

Now 58, Gascoigne admitted that he still drinks alcohol on Good Morning Britain - as he continues to battle that addiction and mental health problems since retiring more than 20 years ago.

In his new book 'Eight', Gazza opens up about his personal battle with alcoholism and his continuing attempts to stay sober. 

On Monday morning, cutting an emotional figure, he appeared on GMB in order to promote the autobiography, looking to inspire fellow sufferers of addiction to get help.

However, during the candid 10-minute interview with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, he admitted that he still hits the drink on occasion and has had to rejoin Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

'I can go months and months without bothering and then have a two-day blip and then the consequences,' said Gascoigne. 'And then I don't like myself for a few days.

'I just get miserable and then have to go to an AA meeting and just listen because you wonder what it is. It wasn't until I first went to AA meetings that I realised I was an alcoholic.'