SIR Elton John on Tuesday revealed he has been struck down by an agonising bout of appendicitis that could have killed him.
The 66-year-old legend had to scrap his European tour including a gig at London’s Hyde Park after stomach pain forced him off stage on Friday. Scans showed a potentially-fatal appendix abscess.
In an interview with The Sun Sir Elton said: “I’m lucky to be alive.”
Stricken Sir Elton risked his life by battling his way through concerts despite crippling stomach pain.
The veteran singer thought it was food poisoning when in fact he had an appendix abscess.
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“I was a ticking time bomb. I guess I could have died at any time.”
“I feel so lucky and so grateful to be alive. I played nine gigs and the White Tie and Tiara Summer Ball in agony” he said.
According to him, on Friday the pain finally became too much and he was forced to walk off stage halfway through his set in Halle, Germany.
Medical tests revealed the abscess and Sir Elton was given drugs to reduce his dangerously inflamed appendix, plus antibiotics to counter the risk of blood poisoning.
He has been confined to bed at his Windsor home and will need surgery once the swelling has reduced. A source said: “Elton is over the worst but is still very sick. It’s been a horrible ordeal.”
Sir Elton has cancelled the remaining summer dates of his European tour including his headlining slot at Friday’s Barclaycard British Summertime Festival in Hyde Park.
Rumours circulated that the gig had sold only a fraction of its 65,000 capacity. But organisers said nearly 40,000 tickets had gone.
Kinks legend Ray Davies will now headline. Elvis Costello, Gabrielle Aplin and Nick Lowe are also appearing. Tickets will be refunded and entry will now be free.
Elton, who in May holidayed in Venice with partner David Furnish and sons Zachary and Elijah, has played 170 gigs in the past year. He hopes to be fit for the iTunes Festival and Bestival shows in September.
The source added: “He hates not being able to do gigs he was booked for. But there’s no way fans will blame him considering the ordeal he’s just been through.”
