Casey Abrams Almost Collapses But Judges Save Him [VIDEO]

CASEY ABRAMS

took his near-elimination from "American Idol" pretty hard.

 --America voted Casey OUT last week, but the judges decided to use their "save" to keep him around.  Casey nearly collapsed on-stage when he was told that he'd be given another shot. 

--But according to TMZ, Casey DID collapse backstage after the show.  They say he was, quote, "so overwrought with emotion [that] he began hyperventilating and then fell to the floor in the hallway." 

 --"Idol" staff members helped him to a chair . . . and were able to get him to relax.

 --Supposedly, Casey said, quote, "I feel really bad that other [contestants] might have to go home now because [the judges] used the [one] save on me."

 --This would seem like an exaggerated account if it were anyone besides Casey.  In addition to his extremely emotional reaction on-camera, Casey also had yet another blood transfusion before Thursday's show.

 --We've heard that Casey has ulcerative colitis . . . an inflammatory bowel disease, which causes cramping, abdominal pain and internal bleeding.