Clarke Clarlisle's wife: 'Nothing could prepare me for what I saw'

Clarke Clarlisle's wife has been speaking about the moment she first saw her husband in hospital after he tried to kill himself.

The former Burnley captain stepped out in front of a lorry last December claiming he'd decided he 'wanted to die'. The 35 year old former England star told The Sun yesterday he thought he was better off dead after losing his TV pundit job, gambling away his money and battling depression. He said the final straw came on December 20th when he was charged with drink driving.

Miraculously, Clarke survived after stepping out in front of the 7 tonne truck in York just days before Christmas. His wife Gemma said doctors warned her to brace herself when she saw him for the first time.

Gemma also told the newspaper how life had been tough with the Clarke before his suicide attempt and she was contemplating a split after failing to get through to him.

But there was a turning point according to Gemma, Clarke eventually said: 'I want to be here, I want to get well.'

Clarke is now on the road to physical recovery suffering internal bleeding, cuts and bruises and a broken rib after the crash.

Gemma says she will support Clarke through this. Next month he'll face a court accused of drink driving. Get the full story in todays Sun.