Ric Flair details battle with alcoholism following health scare

Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Ric Flair is on the road to recovery and has sworn off alcohol for the rest of his life following his recent near-death experience.

"Ten days on life support, it'll wake you up, man," the legendary performer said Thursday on ESPN's The Dan Le Batard Show to promote his upcoming book about himself and his daughter, current WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair that is titled Second Nature: The Legacy of Ric Flair and the Rise of Charlotte.

Flair also detailed his battle with alcoholism and how his drinking habits from throughout his career landed him in the hospital. "Between 3,700 and 4,000 calories worth of booze -- soda or a splash of cranberry -- every day. Like 20 drinks a day," he said of his average alcohol intake.

"I got sick," Flair continued of the moments leading up to his hospitalization. "I had eaten some raw oysters and I told Wendy [fiancee] I didn't feel right. She took me to the hospital on the 11th of August and by the 14th I was on life support."

"They told my kids that everything had shut down -- kidney failure, congestive heart failure, everything shut down," the professional wrestling icon said. "The joke was, with the doctors, that the only thing that was alive and kicking, sitting at the bar waiting for me, was my liver."

"My daughters told me that [the doctor] said to go in and say goodbye to your daddy, he's not going to make it."

Flair, now recovering, has had a pacemaker installed and will need a colostomy bag for six months.

In August, Charlotte discussed with WWE what the experience was like living through her father's health scare noting, "It's probably the hardest two weeks I've had, but man my dad's a fighter."

Flair will be featured once again on ESPN in November for an upcoming 30 for 30 documentary that explores The Nature Boy's Hall of Fame career.