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At the end of 2024, The Wanted singer, Max George was rushed to hospital. The singer shared the news in an emotional message on his Instagram. Max posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed. This isn't the first heartbreak for The Wanted fans as they had to say goodbye to Tom Parker after an aggressive brain tumour.
He explained that the situation was difficult but he remained positive. In the photo, Max is smiling despite the situation. According to the singer, doctors had found something wrong with his heart after feeling unwell. He said, at the time:
Hey everyone, Yesterday I felt really unwell and was taken in to hospital. Unfortunately after some tests they’ve found that I have some issues with my heart.
As a result, the singer had spent Christmas 2024 in hospital. Max George didn’t disclose what the issue with his heart was but was optimistic things would get better.
However, Max recently shared another photo on Instagram with a major health update, which included a second heart operation.
Max George’s second heart operation
As mentioned above, The Wanted singer shared on his social media that he had had another heart operation a few weeks back after feeling physical symptoms in his chest’.
Max explained that after his first operation, one of the leads of his pacemaker had been placed ‘too far’ into his heart. The 36-year-old revealed that the second heart operation took around two hours and was a success.
Max said this event was a ‘setback’ but sadly these things happen. He also explained that he has had ‘a few complications’ over the last few months and is having ‘loads of tests’ to make sure everything is okay.
It’s been a setback, but it’s just one of those things. I’ve had a few complications the last couple of months but I’m having loads of tests to make sure everything is all good.
Finally, he explained that it could take a while for the ‘inflammation’ around his heart to go away, but he is confident he ‘be back on top form in no time’.
It could take a few weeks / months for the inflammation of my heart to subside, but I’m sure I’ll be back on top form in no time!
Max George was nervous about this second surgery
In an exclusive with The Sun, Max George explained that after his first surgery, he thought he was ‘on the road to recovery’. However, life had other plans and he needed a second operation.
Max revealed that he was ‘nervous’ about the second surgery as the procedure he needed came with high risks, such as ‘bleeding on the heart’.
I thought I was on the road to recovery but when I was told I needed a second operation I was nervous, as pulling the pacemaker wires out of the heart wall risks bleeding on the heart.
He explained that the night before the surgery he dind't get much sleep due to his anxiety surrounding the surgery:
The night before, I was really nervous, I didn’t sleep much.
I was worried it could go wrong again and felt anxious that it could bleed out.
Speaking about the symptoms that led to his second heart surgery, Max said that he had a ‘flickering sensation’ that lasted for weeks after he had his pacemaker fitted. He added that the feeling was ‘gradually getting worse’.
When my heart rate went up, it was causing a shock in my heart which was making me jump all the time. My chest was shaking.
Just two days after his operation, Max had to have his lungs biopsied, as per The Sun, as doctors had found enlarged lymph nodes, risking damaging his vocal cords for good.
As a result, doctors had warned Max that there is a 'small chance' he could lose his voice, which would sadly put an end to his singing career. Nonetheless, The Wanted singer decided the risk was worth taking.
That was pretty worrying, but I decided I needed to take the risk. The biopsy was pretty gnarly, it’s a camera with prongs on the end that goes down your throat. It was painful. The recovery was tough, I had chest pain and was coughing up blood for five days.
The singer has already suffered other health struggles
Max George has already faced several health struggles over the years. Indeed, he battled depression, and alcohol abuse. George revealed he stopped drinking after Tom Parker's traumatic death, and he explained having used alcohol as a way to escape his anxiety.
He also suffered from intense depression ten years ago, after The Wanted parted ways for indefinite hiatus.
More recently, in March 2024, the singer had to cancel several performances due to 'personal reasons'. A month later, he posted a picture on his Instagram account showing a severely swollen eye. He went through several brain scans but doctors could not find the source of his ailments. He later discovered his physical symptoms were brought on by his mental health issues. Talking to the Private Parts podcast, he said:
I had a three-month period in my life where I couldn't leave my apartment without being sick. My head was spinning. I couldn't walk. So I ended up in hospital having scans on my brain and it was all down to being depressed.
Read more:
I’m A Celeb co-host Declan Donnelly reveals he was rushed to medics after a jungle spider bite
Katie Price’s terminally ill mother Amy Price rushed to the hospital last week
Sources used:
People: The Wanted's Max George Reveals He Will Spend Christmas in the Hospital After Doctors Found 'Issues with My Heart'
BBC: The Wanted star Max George in hospital with heart 'issues'
Instagram: @maxgeorge
Daily Mail: How The Wanted's Max George has pulled out of gigs over string of debilitating health battles - as star reveals he is in hospital with 'heart issues'
The Sun: 'BRAVE MAX Max George gives new health update with shocking pic after revealing second heart operation'
The Sun: 'MAX'S NEW AGONY I needed 2nd heart op after pacemaker & docs warned I could bleed out but that wasn’t worst part, says'
