Gary Lineker recalls recurring nightmares as he opens up about his son’s cancer battle

Gary Lineker has opened up about his son George’s childhood cancer battle.

The ex England footballer has revealed that he ‘had nightmares about carrying a small white coffin’ in an appearance for Channel 4 campaign Stand up to Cancer.

His eldest son George, now 26, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia when he was a baby.

The Match of the Day host told viewers that he and his ex-wife Michelle Cockayne were told that their son, who eventually went on to make a full recovery from the rare childhood blood cancer, might not survive the illness.

He also divulged that, on more than one occasion, they were told that he might not make it through the night.

‘There were at least two occasions where we sat down and told that the chances of him making it through the night were slim,’ said the dad of four.

‘I used to have this recurring nightmare of carrying this small white coffin and waking up in cold sweats every time I had it. Thankfully I never had to live that scenario.

‘Now there were other parents in the hospital with circumstances very similar to our own,’ he continued, ‘whose children didn’t make it and didn’t make it whilst we were there and how anyone can deal with that I don’t know, but we were lucky.’

Viewers have gone on to commend the sports broadcaster and former Tottenham Hotspur star, who lost his father last year, for being an inspiration to those who are facing a similar battle now.

One viewer wrote: ‘Brilliant, moving 5 minute film @GaryLineker made about his son George who had leukaemia as a toddler.’

‘Beautiful piece from @GaryLineker and son George on Channel 4. Huge respect and inspiration for those facing up to cancer’, wrote another.

And others added: ‘Moving @GaryLineker telling the story of his son’s George cancer on Channel 4 - glad it worked out well’ and ‘@GaryLineker Powerful Stand up to Cancer ad…respect to you and everyone gone or going through this.’

You can catch the full Stand up to Cancer line-up this evening on Channel 4 starting at 7pm.