Ben Cohen was just days from dying shortly before his daughter’s first birthday earlier this year.
The former England rugby player and his partner Kristina Rihanoff, who he met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, were set to celebrate their little girl’s birthday in July when Ben was rushed to hospital shortly before.
The sportsman was diagnosed with glandular fever, pericarditis and sepsis which left him dangerously unwell but doctors treated him just in time.
He told OK!: “It’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me. I was in hospital for four days and the whole time I was beside myself with worry that I might not be around to watch my daughters grow up.”
Ben said he was experiencing problems with his chest and it took just minutes for medics to realise there was something “seriously wrong”.
He said: “They told me I’d have been dead if I hadn’t gone into hospital when I did. I would have been dead within a few days because it was causing an infection in my bloodstream.”
His professional dancer partner Kristina stayed by his side while he lay in his hospital bed but it wasn’t until he returned home that the severity of the situation dawned on him.
Ben said: “When I eventually got home, I bawled by eyes out - it hit me how scary the whole situation had been.”
Ben, who is also father to twin girls from his marriage, separated from wife Abby in 2014.
He and Kristina announced they were expecting a child last year shortly after his divorce was finalised.
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