Charlie Bird has said his biggest fear is choking to death – recalling a “terrifying” moment while at dinner in New York.
The former RTE presenter was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in October 2021.
Bird revealed he now fears he’ll choke to death because of the illness.
He said: “It’s called bulbar ALS.
“My biggest fear is choking to death,” he said as he tells of the horror of not being able to breathe.
His devoted wife Claire recalled how he “turned purple” as he choked on pasta while eating out in a restaurant in New York while the couple were on holidays.
“He turned purple. It was terrifying. We were screaming for water,” he told the Sunday Independent.
He also revealed how he Bruce Springsteen’s song, Land of Hope and Dreams, to be played at his funeral.
“I want this at my funeral. The words are so important. He wants them all with him on the train.”
Claire also revealed how Charlie wants to be cremated with his ashes scattered on Inisheer Island “beside his best friend of 50 years”.
“Charlie used to visit there when he was young,” she added.
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