The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Sir Elton John tells of health struggle after op
Sir Elton John has said he was terrified he would not live to see his children grow up and had to learn to walk again after he contracted an infection following surgery for prostate cancer.
The superstar musician, father to sons Zachary and Elijah with husband David Furnish, previously revealed in his autobiography Me that he was successfully treated for cancer two years ago but then became ill with an infection.
Speaking to Graham Norton in the BBC programme Elton John: Uncensored, Sir Elton said he has had an “annus horribilis” as he struggled with his health.
“I had to learn to walk again. I was extremely sick”
He said: “I was on stage in Vegas in a lot of pain, fluid had built up under my colon. I did the show and was wearing nappies shortly after the operation. I thought: ‘If only they knew right now that I’m pissing myself ’.”
The singer added that he was rushed to hospital in London, where he was “24 hours from snuffing it”.
He added: “I had to learn to walk again. I was extremely sick.
“I said: ‘Don’t let me die, I want to see my children grow up’. ”
He joked there is “very little of me left” after having his prostate removed and losing his hair. Elton John: Uncensored is on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday November 28.