London, July 10: Singer Elton John, who had to cancel his European tour due to a potentially fatal appendix abscess, considers himself lucky that he is still alive.
The 66-year-old star, who was to perform in Europe, had to cancel the tour after experiencing stomach ache July 5. Medical tests later showed appendix abscess.
“I'm lucky to be alive,” thesun.co.uk quoted John as saying.
John initially thought it was food poisoning, so he continued to perform. But later found out it was serious.
“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.
On July, the pain got unbearable and he was forced to go off stage halfway through his performance in Halle, Germany.
After the medical tests, John was given medicines to reduce his inflamed appendix, and antibiotics to counter the risk of blood poisoning.
Now, he is taking bed rest in his Windsor home. He is likely to undergo surgery once the swelling reduces.
“Elton is over the worst, but is still very sick. It's been a horrible ordeal,” said a source.
The "Candle in the wind" hitmaker has cancelled the remaining dates of his European tour, including his headlining slot at Friday's Barclaycard British Summertime Festival in Hyde Park.
It is rumoured that the gig had sold only a fraction of its 65,000 capacity. But organisers said nearly 40,000 tickets had gone.
