Deryck Whibley is ''lucky to be alive''.

The Sum-41 rocker was hospitalised 11 months ago and spent a week in intensive care with severe liver and kidney problems brought on by ''hard boozing'' but he knows things could have been worse.

He said: ''The doctors said I was lucky to be alive and that there was still a chance I could die.

''I do look back and think about how much worse it could have been.

''I could have had way more health problems than I had, but my liver is fine! Everything shut down before any more damage could happen. To walk out of there alive, without cirrhosis or needing transplants, you know, it could have been worse.''

The 'Fat Lip' singer - who still has problems walking because his muscles wasted after spending so long in a hospital bed - feels ''glad'' he got ill at a relatively young age and insists he is now feeling better than ever.

In an interview with Vice's music channel Noisey, the 35-year-old rocker said: ''I'm glad it happened now and not when I'm like, 50, because my body wouldn't have been able to handle it.

''But it's unfortunate that it had to even come to that. However, now I'm feeling better than I've ever felt. I'm healthier. I'm in the best shape of my life. I'm more productive. Well, I was always really productive, but I was just good at being a functional alcoholic.''

And Deryck - who was previously married to Avril Lavigne - is relishing leading a sober life.

He said: ''There are so many exciting things now. ''So many things are new for me. I'd never done anything sober. I've been a hard partying drinker since I was 17 and on tour all the f***ing time, never taking a break. Now there's this whole world out there and things I'm realising I've never done.''