By Sarah Bull


'It was touch and go': George Michael revealed in a statement that he is on the road to recovery following a serious bout of pneumonia


George Michael has issued a statement about his health today, reassuring fans he is on the road to recovery and thanking the hospital who treated him for saving his life.

The 48-year-old singer, who had been in Austria being treated for pneumonia, admitted he was still feeling weak following the illness, and said it had been 'touch and go' whether he would survive.

Michael, who wore a scarf and sunglasses as he spoke to the press outside his home in Highgate, thanked everyone for their support.


Asked how he was feeling, Michael - who was supported throughout his ordeal by his boyfriend Fadi Fawaz, ex-partner Kenny Goss and 75-year-old father Kyriacos Panayiotou and older sisters Melanie and Yioda - said: 'I feel amazing. I mean, I'm very weak but I feel amazing.

'I got streptagotta-something - it was a form of pneumonia and they basically spent three weeks keeping me alive.

I don't want to take you through all of it because some of it I want to protect my family from, but it was by far the worst month of my life.

'But I'm incredibly fortunate to be here and incredibly fortunate to have picked up this bug where I did because apparently the hospital in Austria that they rushed me to was the best place in the world I could have been to deal with pneumonia.


Emotional: Michael appeared to be struggling to hold back his tears at points during the press conference

Operation: Michael also revealed he had had a tracheotomy during his time in the Austrian hospital


'So I have to believe that somebody believes I've still got some work to do here.'

Asked what kept him going through his illness, Michael replied: 'My family, and the thought of all the people I still have to play to.

'The fact I've been so lucky and the fact that I still have plenty to live for - I have this amazing, amazing life and if I wasn't spiritual enough before the last 4 or 5 weeks then I certainly am now.'

Michael also revealed he had had tracheotomy, a procedure which involves making an incision in the trachea to open up the airways, during his time at the AKH clinic in Vienna, Austria.

He said:'I'd say it was touch and go for a couple of weeks. We played it down because I didn't want to worry my fans too much - I'm sorry I couldn't contact them before now but I wasn't in any state to do so.'

When asked by journalists what his plan is now, Michael struggled to hold back tears as he replied: 'The plan is to play to every person who had a ticket to see me, and I would like to play one other show for the doctors in Austria who saved my life, because I have spent the last 10 days thanking people for saving my life - and that's not something I have had to do before.

'I really from the bottom of my heart thank everyone for sending messages, and everyone in that ICU unit who saved my life.'


Thankful: Michael also revealed he would be performing a special one-off concert to say thank you to the doctors at the AKH hospital in Vienna

Cancelled: The singer's tour was postponed last month when he was struck down with pneumonia


As he made his way back inside his home, Michael was asked if the illness had made him reassess things, to which he replied: 'Yes, definitely - I'm a new man.'

Michael had to cancel all the remaining shows on his 'Symphonica Tour' when he fell ill in November.

In late November, a statement released by Michael's doctors revealed that the singer was 'improving steadily.'


source:dailymail

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Tags: George Michael

By Ben Todd and Tom Kelly



George Michael’s family are today at the stricken star’s hospital bedside in Vienna.

The singer, who is suffering from severe pneumonia, has been joined by his 75-year-old father Kyriacos Panayiotou – known as Jack Panos – as well as sisters Melanie, 49 and Yioda, 53.

His former boyfriend, art dealer Kenny Goss, is also due to join the group in the Austrian capital.

A close friend told the Mail: ‘His whole family are with him. They are very close-knit.

‘George is just such a lucky man in that sense. He’s so adored.’

The 48-year-old star’s boyfriend, hair stylist Fadi Fawaz, has kept a bedside vigil since the singer fell ill on Monday last week.

Mr Fawaz, 38, appeared tired and drawn as he left the hospital during the weekend.

He was accompanied by two women, believed to be Michael’s sisters, one of whom held her head in her hands waiting in the lobby at the AKH hospital.

A hospital spokesman yesterday declined to comment on the singer’s condition.


Hour of need: The singer with his father, Kyriacos Panayiotou, who is at the hospital along with the star's sisters


Speaking of 53-year-old Goss, Michael’s partner for 13 years until 2009, the friend continued: ‘Kenny of course is very concerned. He has been in touch every day. They will always be the best of friends.’

The AKH is Europe’s largest hospital with 1,600 doctors, including world experts in pneumonia who are treating Michael in the intensive care unit using a Triadyne Proventa bed, designed for critical cases.

Michael fell ill last week hours before he was due on stage in the city, and on Friday cancelled the rest of his Symphonica tour.



source:dailymail

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Tags: George Michael

By Ben Todd and Tom Kelly


Ailing: Singer George Michael, pictured performing in Milan, Italy earlier this month, is recovering from pneumonia in Vienna


George Michael dramatically abandoned his current tour yesterday after doctors revealed he is battling a ‘severe’ form of pneumonia.

The 48-year-old singer was rushed to hospital with agonising chest pains hours before he was due to take the stage in front of thousands of fans in Vienna earlier this week.

A statement from his publicist last night stressed that he has pneumonia and said any other speculation regarding his illness was ‘unfounded and untrue’.

It added Michael had been told by doctors it was unclear how long he would take to recover and he could not continue with his Symphonica tour.

All 14 remaining dates have been postponed, including three concerts at Earl’s Court as a finale before Christmas.

Professor Dr Christoph Zielinski of the Medical University of Vienna, and Professor Dr Thomas Staudinger, specialist in internal medicine and intensive care medicine, said: ‘George Michael has severe community acquired pneumonia and is being treated as an inpatient.

‘His condition has stabilised and he is responding to treatment.

‘From the current point of view, the time until recovery cannot be estimated, but he will not be able to perform the rest of the tour. Besides medical treatment, complete rest and peace and quiet are mandatory.’

The Mail reported yesterday how the star had ‘woken up’ in hospital on Thursday, raising hopes for his health. But last night he was believed to still be strapped to a high-tech rotating bed used to help patients breathe in serious cases of pneumonia.

The futuristic bed mimics the body’s natural movements to improve blood flow and has equipment to reduce pressure on his lungs. Its rotations help to prevent complications caused by immobility, and the bed can also transform into a chair to enable medical staff to take X-rays.

Michael is believed to have fallen ill in his suite at Vienna’s exclusive Imperial Hotel on Monday.

After a doctor was called, he was immediately taken to the city’s Rudolfinerhaus private hospital.

Doctors later decided to transfer him to Vienna’s AKH hospital, which has the advanced specialist facilities to treat his illness.

He is being treated in a special ward at the hospital used by Austrian politicians and VIPs when they are seriously ill.

It was initially claimed he had a throat infection.

All change: Michael informed fans of postponed gigs on his official website


Yesterday’s statement from Michael’s publicist said: ‘He is receiving excellent medical care; he is responding to treatment and slowly improving.

‘To ensure his complete well-being, George Michael’s doctors have advised that he cannot perform the rest of his Symphonica tour and that he instead takes a full and complete rest.

‘As a result, all of the British dates of the Symphonica European tour will be postponed.

High praise: Michael's Symphonica tour has won round critics


‘George was very much looking forward to bringing his tour back home and performing for his loyal and dedicated UK fan base.

‘Discussions and preparations are currently under way to arrange the rescheduled dates and further announcements will be made at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, tickets holders are asked to retain their tickets.’

The latest cancellations come after Michael had to call off one of his concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London after being hit by a viral infection. That concert has now been rescheduled for next May.

The star – who rose to fame as the lead singer of Eighties pop group Wham! – last played a concert at the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany, last Saturday as part of the Symphonica tour.

He is believed to be dating celebrity hair stylist Fadi Fawaz after they were seen together on a balcony in Venice earlier this month.

Regular tweeter Michael has also been conspicuously absent from his Twitter page since November 17.

He announced the 65-show tour of Europe in May – three years after he said he would quit live performance.

At the time, the singer, who spent a month in prison for drug-driving last year, told a press conference: ‘I felt very re-energised after my recent troubles.

‘I felt it was really what I want to do as an artist.’


source:dailymail

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Tags: George Michael

By Emily Sheridan


Ailing: Singer George Michael, pictured performing in Milan, Italy earlier this month, is suffering from pneumonia


George Michael has been forced a string of concert dates after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

The singer, 48, was hospitalised in Vienna, Austria, where he was due to perform on Monday.

As a result of his continuing medical treatment, his scheduled gig in Strasbourg, France, tonight and concerts in Cardiff this week have all been postponed.


The former Wham! star's spokesperson said he had been ordered to pull the gigs by his doctors and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.

His rep added: 'Plans to reschedule these postponed tour dates will be provided when available.'

His concert promoter Manfred Leodolter told Austrian press today: 'George Michael is still in Vienna. Doctors have warned him for the moment against flying and he is getting rest in Vienna.'

Michael's current hospitalisation is the second time he has been ill on his worldwide Symphonica Tour, which started in Prague, Czech Republic in August.

All change: Michael informed fans of postponed gigs on his official website


Last month, he cancelled one of his three sell-out gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall due to illness.

At the time, his spokesperson said he was suffering from a viral infection and had a high temperature.

That gig has now been rescheduled for May 2012.

The singer's tour sees him performing with a 41-piece orchestra and in front of a giant red LED wall.

Critics have hailed Michael's concerts as a huge success with the Daily Mail's Adrian Thrills writing: 'A stunning finale from a performer who suddenly looks back to his best.'


High praise: Michael's Symphonica tour has won round critics



source:dailymail

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