London (IANS): The late singing legend Frank Sinatra is said to have attempted suicide twice during his traumatic love affair with actress Ava Gardner, reveals a book.

The 35-year old Sinatra was married to 29-year-old Gardner, who was the second of his four wives. Author Tom Santopietro details the crooner's alleged internal struggles in "Sinatra in Hollywood", which hits bookstores this month.

In the book, Santopietro claims Sinatra cut his wrists in friend Jimmy Van Heusen's New York apartment in 1953, the year the pair initially split, reports contactmusic.com.

A publishing source said: "The author reveals that Van Heusen's unexpected return saved the singer from bleeding to death."

The source added: "Sinatra's first attempt at suicide had occurred a year earlier after yet another debilitating fight with Ava. He inhaled gas from the kitchen stove in a different friend's apartment.

"The book also says Ava had two abortions while they were together - without consulting Frank, saying that a sane lifestyle necessary for raising children just wasn't possible with him."

The couple divorced in 1957.