Castro admits he was "at death's door" when he gave up power

London, Aug 31 (ANI): Former Cuban President Fidel Castro has admitted he was "at death's door" when he gave up power four years ago, saying he was weak, dangerously thin and thought at times he could not go on, but added that now he has recovered.

"I couldn't aspire to live any longer, much less anything else, I asked myself several times if these people (the doctors) would let me live under these conditions, or, whether they would allow me to die," The Telegraph quoted Castro, as saying.

"Laid out in that bed, I could only see what was around me, machines I did not understand. I didn't know how long this torment would continue. The only thing I could hope for was that the world would stop, but I recovered," he added, proudly.

He further stated that he survived but in very poor physical condition. At one point, he weighted about 50 kilograms, but now, he claims to have regained his original weight of 85-86 kilos. lthough, the government never disclosed what disease he was suffering from, it was widely known that he had complications involving diverticulitis, an intestinal ailment common in older people. He also said he underwent a number of surgeries to recover.

Castro, who handed over power to his younger brother Raul Castro, was treated at an undisclosed location far from public view. Since his re-emergence last month, Castro looks healthy and his voice seems to have regained strength. (ANI)