Off the PitchDaily Mail FootballUnverified source· 23 Sept 2026
Matt Lawrence: From Millwall Captain to Surviving Fentanyl Twice
Former Millwall captain Matt Lawrence died twice in four days after taking cocaine laced with fentanyl, and now he's rebuilding his life in New York.
D. Lawrence
player
Who
Matt Lawrence
What
Drug addiction and near-death experiences
When
March 2021
Where
New York
What happened. Matt Lawrence, the former Millwall captain, died twice in March 2021 after taking cocaine laced with fentanyl in New York. He was resuscitated both times and is now sharing his story of addiction and recovery.
- The first overdose occurred on St Patrick's Day in Manhattan; the second four days later inside a bar.
- The dealer responsible was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2023.
- Lawrence's text messages warning his dealer about lethal cocaine were used in court.
“I managed to normalise dying because I came out of hospital and didn't stop.”
— Matt Lawrence
Lawrence is now rebuilding his life in New York and speaking publicly about his addiction for the first time.
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