Sum 41 star Deryck Whibley lucky to be alive after alcohol-related medical scare

Avril Lavigne's ex-husband Deryck Whibley feels lucky to be alive after his kidneys and liver shut down following years of heavy drinking.

The Sum 41 rocker was hospitalized a year ago (May14) and it has taken him close to 12 months to get back on his feet after the near-death drama.

He tells Vice.Noisey.com he's glad his medical scare came when it did because he was young and strong enough to survive.

Whibley says, "I'm glad it happened now and not when I'm, like, 50, because my body wouldn't have been able to handle it... However, now I'm feeling better than I've ever felt. I'm healthier. I'm in the best shape of my life.

"The doctors said I was lucky to be alive and that there was still a chance I could die... I do look back and think about how much worse it could have been. I could have had way more health problems than I had, but my liver is fine! Everything shut down before any more damage could happen. To walk out of there alive, without cirrhosis or needing transplants, you know, it could have been worse."

The singer puts his drink problem down to the fact alcohol was the only thing that could help him cope with overnight success.

He adds, "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 onstage."

Still in physical therapy, Whibley is now working on Sum 41's sixth studio album, and he admits the health scare has given him a new lease on life and a hunger to get back onstage.

And he insists he won't be tempted by booze on the road, adding, "I'm done with it."

Ironically, his ex-wife has also faced a health battle in recent months - she recently told People magazine she had been bedridden for five months as she battled Lyme disease.