Madonna breaks silence on near death hospital dash during first night on tour

MADONNA has broken her silence on her near-death hospital dash during the opening night of her world tour.

The legend, 65, admitted she "didn't think I would make it" as she opened up on her terrifying ordeal on stage at London's O2 Arena.

Madonna sent an emotional message to her fans at the sold-out gig and revealed for the first time just how close to death she came.

"I didn't think I would make it, and neither did my doctors," she said, while stood on stage brandishing her guitar. "That's why I woke up with all of my children sitting around me."

The Papa Don't Preach hitmaker then rubbed her head as she recalled the traumatic incident.

"I forgot five days of my life, or my death, I don't really know where I was. But the angels were protecting me. And my children were there. And my children always save me, every time."

The audience erupted into cheers as the icon revealed what kept her going.

"If you want to know how I pulled through and how I survived, I thought, I have got to be there for my children. I have to survive for them."

She then launched into an acoustic version of the classic Gloria Gaynor track I Will Survive, which sent the crowd wild.

Back in June, the Material Girl was rushed to the ICU after being found unresponsive, forcing the pop star to postpone her highly-anticipated Celebration tour.

Her manager wrote on instagram at the time: "On Saturday June 24, Madonna developed a serious bacterial infection which led to a several day stay in the ICU."

Reports quickly surfaced that her six kids had raced to be by her bedside, which she confirmed tonight.

She took to the stage for the long-awaited opening night of her Celebration tour this evening (October 14) to a rapturous reception.

But after an intense rehearsal schedule, she sported a bandage on her leg to support her knee, suggesting she is still suffering from some health issues.