LONDON – Fighting back tears, singer George Michael appeared outside his London home Friday to acknowledge that he had nearly died during his monthlong battle with pneumonia.
He said it had been “touch and go” while he was in the intensive care unit of a Vienna hospital battling an extremely dangerous form of pneumonia, but that his representatives had “played it down” to avoid alarming his fans.
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“They spent three weeks keeping me alive basically,” said Michael, who appeared to have lost weight during his ordeal. “I don’t want to take you through all of it because some of it I want to protect my family from and I’m sure I’ll get it all written down but it was by far the worst month of my life.”
He seemed short of breath and at times had trouble speaking during his 10-minute appearance.
“I’m very weak but I feel amazing,” the pop star said as he stood in front of a decorated Christmas tree outside his imposing red brick home in the Highgate neighborhood of north London.
The singer behind hits such as “Careless Whisper.” “Faith” and “Father Figure” said the experience would make him more spiritual and appreciative of his life.
“I have an amazing, amazing life and if I wasn’t spiritual enough before the last four five weeks, then I certainly am now,” he said.
Michael seemed overcome with emotion as he expressed gratitude for being alive and thanked the medical staff in Vienna for taking such good care of him.
“I really, really, really, really, from the bottom of my heart, thank everybody who sent messages and everybody in that IC unit that made sure I’m still here today,” Michael said.
Michael did not provide many medical details about his illness, which forced him to cancel an extensive European tour.
He had streptococcus pneumonia, a bacterial form of the disease that can sometimes lead to fatal complications.
Michael spoke about having “woken up” 10 days ago, implying that he had been in a coma.
He also revealed he had undergone a tracheotomy while in the hospital. This treatment would have helped him to breathe.
“I spent the last 10 days since I woke up literally thanking people for saving my life which is something I have never had to do before and never want to do again,” he said.
Richard Gere to be honored for film work, charity
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Richard Gere is getting a George Eastman Award in upstate New York for his contributions to movies and humanitarian causes.
The star of such films as “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “Pretty Woman” will be honored Feb. 16 at the George Eastman House, the restored home of the founder of photography pioneer Eastman Kodak Co.
Gere has appeared in more than 40 films. In 1991, he founded the Gere Foundation, which gives grants for public health, education and emergency relief in Tibet. He has long been prominent in the fight against HIV-AIDS.
Past recipients of the award include Lauren Bacall, Martin Scorsese and Meryl Streep.
Prince Philip receives stent to clear artery
LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II’s husband has undergone surgery for a blocked coronary artery, British royal officials said Friday.
Buckingham Palace said Prince Philip, 90, was taken from Sandringham, the queen’s sprawling estate in rural Norfolk, to the cardiac unit at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge earlier Friday for “precautionary tests” after suffering chest pains.
The palace said tests at the hospital showed a blocked coronary artery was causing Philip’s discomfort.
“This was treated successfully by the minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting,” the palace said in a statement. “Prince Philip will remain in hospital under observation for a short period.”
Dr. Simon Davies, a cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, said Philip may have had a heart attack — or been on the verge of one — before the procedure.
It was unclear how Philip’s hospitalization would alter the royal family’s plans.
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