Elton ‘lucky to be alive’

Sir Elton John is "lucky to be alive" after he was struck down with appendicitis.

The Rocket Man hitmaker cancelled his remaining summer concert dates yesterday (9 July) after falling ill with the condition, and has now revealed how he has been playing through agonising pain and could have could have died "at any time".

He said: "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."

The 66-year-old singer initially thought he had food poisoning but medical tests showed he had a potentially-fatal appendix abscess.

John was given drugs to reduce his inflamed appendix and antibiotics to lower the chances of him getting blood poisoning.

He is now resting at his home in Windsor, south east England, and will have surgery when the swelling has gone down.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "Elton is over the worst but is still very sick. It’s been a horrible ordeal.

"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."

John – who has two-year-old son, Zachary, and seven-month-old son, Elijah, with his husband David Furnish – has played 170 gigs in the past year and hopes to be back behind the piano soon.

A spokesperson for the Your Song star said: "Elton is incredibly disappointed to postpone these tour dates. To know that he made such super-human efforts and continued to perform to thousands through his illness only confirms his dedication to his European fans.

"He is eager to be back on top form and return to play the remaining shows starting in early September 2013."