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Irish actor Barry Keoghan has revealed that during his battle with addiction, he “technically died” for a brief moment and experienced a vivid, harrowing vision while receiving emergency treatment. Speaking candidly on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, the 33-year-old Dublin native shared that he has been clean for two and a half years following multiple rehab stints.
Keoghan recounted the near-death episode, which occurred in London, describing a striking vision where he saw a blonde woman walking away, seemingly beckoning him to follow, set against contrasting scenes of color and black-and-white council flats. In the vision, he was being attacked and stabbed by a group of men-an intense metaphor for the medical staff working to revive him.
He explained, “I technically did die for a few seconds… I was begging them that I could stay.”
This profound experience marked a turning point in his life. At age 32-the same age at which his mother passed away from heroin overdose-Keoghan reached a decisive moment that prompted him to finally overcome his addiction after three rehab attempts.
In addition to his struggles with substance abuse, Keoghan revealed he suffered a severe bout of necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and potentially fatal flesh-eating bacterial infection. He contracted the infection after being struck with a bottle in the weeks before filming “The Banshees of Inisherin.” The experience led to a psychotic episode and left visible scars on his arms, which he openly discussed following a question from American producer Benny Blanco.
Now embracing sobriety, fatherhood, and self-acceptance, Keoghan reflected on his journey: “I’m at peace now, and responsible for everything that I do. I’m present. I’m content… the haze that was once there is just a bit sharper now, and colorful.”
His heartfelt disclosure sheds light on the challenges he has faced behind the scenes and his determination to move forward with renewed clarity and purpose.