Paul Gacoigne pleaded with doctors treating him in an American alcohol rehab clinic to save his life so he could "water the plants".
Gascoigne, who appeared on Daybreak on Monday morning, says he is feeling "good" after a stint at the Cottonwood clinic near Tuscon, Arizona, and is "quite excited [for] what the future holds".
The former England international was admitted to intensive care when his body had reacted badly to detox treatment.
Gascoigne, 45, was reportedly drinking two litres of gin and 15 cans of Stella Artois a day, as well as taking up to 30 antidepressant Valium pills and injecting cocaine as his life spiralled out of control.
"I went to the treatment centre, and they tried to detox us, and they couldn't, so they rushed us to hospital, and that's where it got quite serious," explained Gascoigne.
"I just remember the guy saying to the doctor in the treatment centre, 'I don't think this guy's going to make it', and obviously I put my head up a little bit, and I had tubes all over my arms and body, and getting injected, and I said, please don't let me die, I need to water the plants.
"The plants were more important than me. The plants passed away and I survived."
He added: "People are saying it's too early for me to be talking, but it's best for me to get back to reality straight away."
Gascoigne added it was "best for me to get back to reality straight away".
Gascoigne arriving at Daybreak's studio
Friends and figures within football raised over £100,000 towards his rehab treatment, which included £40,000 from England players through the FA's England Footballers Foundation charity.
Gascoigne's mercurial talent and his alcohol dependency has seen him regularly compared to former Manchester United great George Best, whose death in 2005 was primarily owed to his alcoholism.
Asked about Best, Gascoigne replied: "God bless him, he's passed away, and I was friends with George, but I just felt like George didn't want to get well. I'm trying so hard to do it.
"I didn't ask to be an alcoholic, but I must admit I worked on it.
"I went to any lengths to get my drink, I'll go even further to stay sober."