Mel Gibson: “on verge of suicide” because of alcoholism

Mel Gibson was “on the verge of suicide” because of his alcoholism, a new report has claimed.

A source close to the star told Deadline Hollywood that Mel “felt he was helpless to alcohol and didn’t know what to do about it.”

“No one’s really asking questions about his state of mind. That’s why he was driving around 90 miles an hour. This was a death wish. If that cop hadn’t stopped him, this guy was going to be wrapped around a pole.”

“This is such a bigger issue than ‘Will he work again?’ This is about his not wanting to live anymore. I’ve seen what he’s gone through and what he’s going through. You have to understand the disease of alcoholism. He was back in it. There’s no doubt in my mind he was trying to kill himself that night.”

Mel reported entered a non-residential rehab programme over the weekend at an unnamed centre in the Malibu area. His publicist Alan Nierob confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that Mel is now “participating in an ongoing program to deal with this. The guy is trying to stay alive.”

Mel could still face serious charges from his drink-driving arrest and the district attorney’s office is now reviewing the case: an arraignment has been set for 28 September.