He told my husband (when they got to have a talk one time) that when he did it he didn't care if he lived or died. If my BIL hadn't gone over to the house to check on him when he did it's likely that my FIL would have died (and the house possibly burn down).

What my BIL found wasn't pretty - liquor bottle (don't know if it was empty) sitting on the oven (which was on), filth everywhere, my FIL passed out in crap in a bedroom. Add in the fact that he's diabetic/has high blood pressure and some breathing problems due to smoking and he's really damn lucky to be alive right now.

That sounds terrible, and yes, you're right. He is very lucky to be alive, especially with all his other health complications. Hopefully he's got a new appreciation for that.