Westlife star Mark Feehily has revealed he’s been forced to pull out of the band’s latest international tour due to facing various health issues over the years.
Feehily, 43, made the shock announcement with a lengthy statement on the band’s official Instagram page.
In his statement, the Irish singer said he has the “upmost level of regret” but is trying to make his health and ”recovery” his “absolute priority at this time”.
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”Hello and much love to you all! It’s Mark here… Most of you are aware that I have had some health challenges over the past while. It actually all started 3.5 years ago in August 2020 when I had surgery. Within a few days of this surgery I was in severe pain and was rushed into A&E,” he said.
“I eventually ended that awful day in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where I was informed that due to a complication with the surgery, I had developed severe ‘sepsis’, a life threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life.”
He said he spent more time in hospital during the COVID-19 lockdowns, but has ”had ongoing medical problems as a result of it all”.
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The singer said he was rushed to hospital in 2021 with pneumonia, forcing him to miss a show, and then had another surgery, before developing an incisional hernia.
“That surgery took place recently and thankfully it went according to plan but with that, my recovery must now become my absolute priority at this time,” he went on.
”It is with the upmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down from all Westlife touring until a time that I have had the chance to fully recover from the turbulent journey I have been through as an individual.”
“Believe me, I wish things could be different!”
He went on to thank fans, his family and friends for their support and said he is ”devastated” to miss their upcoming shows.
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But, he told fans he will be seeing them again soon.
“Westlife forever!” he finished the statement.
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The band is set to play shows as part of the Wild Dreams Tour in Ontario, Canada, New York, Chicago, before heading to Mexico and Brazil next month.
The group is made up of members Feehily, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne.
Brian McFadden used to be a member, but quit the band in 2004.