Aug 30, 2005, 15:04 GMT
Rolling Stones star Charlie Watts has escaped death in a near-fatal car crash, it has been revealed.
The legendary drummer was travelling in a limousine in Nice on the French Riviera when his driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing a head-on smash. Charlie was rushed to hospital where he was treated for cracked ribs and a broken sternum and has spent six weeks recovering.
The crash happened earlier this year. The drummer was however able to rejoin his Rolling Stones bandmates for the last month of recording their album before kicking off their world tour last week.
Charlie, who was travelling with his wife, Shirley, to their French home when the crash happened, has now revealed the seat belt saved his life.
He confessed: "But for the seat belt I'd be dead no question. I'm fine, thank God. It's the fourth time in a year I've been in hospital after having never been in one."
Over the last 12 months Charlie has undergone six weeks of intensive radiotherapy to fight throat cancer. He has now been given the all-clear.
A source added to Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper: "It all could have been much worse. He is still very weak - but he was very lucky to survive the crash at all."
Copyright 2005 BANG Media International
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