Gordon Ramsay 'cheats death' in cliff plunge

Reuters

CHEATING DEATH: Gordon Ramsay says he nearly died after falling 85 metres down a cliff into freezing cold water.

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Foul-mouthed TV chef Gordon Ramsay has admitted cheating death after falling from a cliff and landing in freezing cold water.

Ramsay, the star of hit shows Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen, was filming The F Word in Iceland when he slipped and fell 85 metres, The Sun reported.

"I thought I was a goner," Ramsay said.

"They say cats have nine lives. I've had 12 already and I don't know how many more I'll have."

The 41-year-old told The Sun he struggled to get to the surface because of the heavy gear he was wearing.

"I remember thinking, 'Oh f**k'. My boots and my waterproofs were dragging me down."

"I'm an extremely good swimmer but I couldn't get to the surface. I was panicking and my lungs were filling up with water."

"When I got to the top after getting my boots off I was dazed and my head was totally numb."

Ramsay's TV crew pulled him out after throwing him a rope.

He said he was too scared to tell his wife, Tana.

"I chickened out but she knew something was up. She was upset and extremely pissed off. When I was underwater all I could think of was Tana and my kids.

"It wasn't until I was on the plane home I realised what a close call I'd had."

- © Fairfax NZ News