Whoopi Goldberg reveals she 'came very close' to dying due to pneumonia

TV host says she 'came very, very close to leaving the Earth'

Whoopi Goldberg revealed in a video message on Friday that she came close to dying due to pneumonia. (YouTube / The View)

Whoopi Goldberg has revealed she came close to dying due to pneumonia, in a new video message about her health.

The actor and TV host shared the update on Friday in order to explain why she has been absent from the ABC talk show The View for a month.

“I am here, I am up and moving around, not as fast as I’d like to be, but I am OK. I’m not dead,” Goldberg said.

She explained that she contracted pneumonia in both lungs then was “septic”, meaning “there was fluids, there was all kinds of stuff going on”.

Sepsis and septic shock can surface as complications from any infection, including pneumonia, which is an infection affecting one or both lungs.

“Yes, I came very, very close to leaving the Earth,” Goldberg added. “Good news, I didn’t. Thank you for all of your good wishes, all of the wonderful things that people have been saying.”

She quipped: “Even people who are not huge fans of mine have actually said nice things about me. We all know that’s going to change when I get back, but for right now, it’s brilliant!”

Goldberg promised to tell her co-hosts more about the "interesting" experience once they're all reunited.

Earlier in the year, her absence from The View had previously led to some speculation that she might host the Oscars – a rumour that never materialised.

Instead, the Academy Awards ceremony proceeded without a host.