More about: Elton John

Sir Elton John has spoken of his relief at not contracting HIV and dying young like Freddie Mercury after his extreme antics during the eighties.

Elton made the frank and honest admission whilst speaking to the International Aids Conference in Washington, D.C. yesterday (July 23), saying that he thinks he is lucky to be alive.

"Here's a story of a young man coming to terms with his sexuality, who got mixed up in drugs and drink. He took chances with unprotected sex, and he was at very high risk of contracting Hiv. He hit rock bottom, his life was a mess," Sir Elton said. 

Adding: "He should have died, to be honest, and he almost did. By all rights, I shouldn't be here. I should be dead, six feet under, in a wooden box. I should have contracted Hiv in the 1980s and died in the 1990s, just like Freddie Mercury, Rock Hudson and many friends and loved ones. Every day, I wonder: how did I survive?"

Sir Elton John has since set up a hugely beneficial AIDS charity and raises millions of dollars every year to help those suffering with the illness.

Meanwhile, Elton's recent collaborative album with Australian duo Pnau has gone straight to number one in the UK - his first chart-topper in 22 years.

Photos: Sir Elton John live in Manchester

More about: Elton John