Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton turns 80 today, and he’d almost certainly be the first to admit it is a miracle he has made it this far. The rock and blues singer/songwriter is regarded as one of the most influential guitarists ever – the only artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992, Cream in 1993, and as a solo artist in 2000.

But along the way, Clapton has battled lifelong addiction issues and personal tragedy.

He struggled with severe heroin and cocaine addictions and is a recovering alcoholic. In his memoir he described a 20-year drug and alcohol addiction that cost him £12,000 a week to feed his demons.

“I don’t know how I survived – the Seventies especially,” he admitted.

“There was one point where they were flying me to hospital and I was dying, apparently. I had three ulcers and one of them was bleeding.

“I was drinking three bottles of brandy, taking handfuls of codeine, and I was close to checking out.”

But then the very worst thing that could happen to him happened.

Clapton’s four-year-old son Conor died after falling from a window on the 53rd floor of a New York building on March 20, 1991.

The apartment belonged to a friend of Conor’s mother, model Lory Del Santo. Clapton wasn’t there at the time and learned of his son’s death over the phone.

While the devastating news almost destroyed him, it would eventually provide the trigger to his sobriety.

Utterly bereft, Clapton fled to his holiday home in Antigua – the one place on earth he could hide – and became a recluse.

There he set up the Crossroads recovery centre where, today, they will also be celebrating his birthday.

His close personal friend Nicos Peraticos, CEO of Crossroads, tells the Sunday Express what Clapton means to them.

Nicos says: “When his son died, Eric came here to Antigua.He had owned a couple of homes here and the islanders were always very protective of him.

“It was during that awful period he wrote Tears In Heaven.”

The song, inspired by his late son, appeared on the 1991 Rush film soundtrack and has become one of his most enduring hits.

“Despite tourism we are a quiet little place. I think the island offered him solace, peace and healing during an incredibly painful and difficult time in his life,” Nicos continues.

“It is a very peaceful island, beautiful beaches. The people are wonderful and welcoming. What happened could have destroyed him, but I think he found peace and solitude here. As soon as he felt able, he wanted to give something back to say thank you.”

The Crossroads Centre is located on ten acres, surrounded by bush and shrubland in Willoughby Bay. It offers a structured residential programme which is modelled on the Betty Ford Center and Alcoholics Anonymous.

It has 36 beds and is the only drug rehab programme on the island of 80,000 people where addiction rates are high.

The Crossroads Centre, a rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol addiction, was set up in 1998.

Funded and founded by Clapton, he has since raised more than £50million to keep it going. Among those who have been helped by a stay at Crossroads are stars Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Billy Joel and the Irish actor Colin Farrell.

Yet while celebrities pay a small fortune to get clean, Clapton’s fundraising ensures the services are free of charge to locals.

Nicos says: “The centre would not exist if it wasn’t for Eric. It was the late 90s and there was a big crack problem on the island, like there was in the US, and alcohol of course. Crack was an epidemic.

“Eric has personal experience of addiction, that was his motivation.Eric has been in the 12-step programme as part of his recovery from alcoholism.

“The 12th step is about giving back. You have to give something away so you can keep your sobriety. I think that was very much part of his motivation. That and Conor and his gratitude to the island for helping him through.”

As chairman of the Crossroads board, Clapton remains closely involved in the running of the centre, but he certainly doesn’t play the big rock star.

Nicos adds: “He’s a solitary man who has his feet on the ground – that’s his personality. He is quiet, unassuming and highly intelligent, a low key kind of guy, not your typical rock star.

“People here think of him as somebody who has been coming here for a very long time – a benefactor and a friend.”

During visits, Clapton will sometimes talk with patients about their recovery.

“He comes to Antigua a couple of times a year and always speaks with the Crossroads clients, not
as a celebrity but as a recovering addict who recognises their struggles and triggers, because they are the same for him. He is a very approachable man and the clients are very happy to see him.”

Clapton himself has admitted: “I could never have made it without the kind of treatment that we offer here. Crossroads has made a huge difference to the community of Antigua.

“A lot of the population have been through the doors of Cross-roads and it’s changed the face of their community. When I became
a member of that community and realised my responsibility to that community, everything else seemed to click into place.”

As Nicos explains: “As well as professional psychiatrists, we have therapists and counsellors, and offer massage, yoga and acupuncture services. We offer a full medical detox and family time in an incredible private peaceful setting.

“During the medically supervised detoxification process, our nursing and medical team provides 24/7 support.

“All sorts of celebrities have been through our doors, musicians, actors, TV stars, but we are here for all, whether they can afford it or not. Eric set this up principally for the people of Antigua.”

Many of the cleaning and maintenance staff are former alumni.

Clapton’s target is to have one-third of the beds reserved for permanent residents of the Caribbean islands.

He has organised the Crossroads Guitar Festival since 1999, to raise funds for the centre. This year’s festival in Los Angeles boasts the likes of John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, and Keith Urban, among other top artists on the bill.

Nicos added: “Eric has been on the island this month for our AGM. And on his birthday we will celebrate of course and send him birthday messages.

“We wouldn’t be here without him and neither would hundreds of addicts who have been through these doors. Happy 80th boss!”