Pop star George Michael has been released from the Austrian hospital and is flying back to England today after almost five weeks.
George Michael, 48, has been receiving treatment for pneumonia at the AKH clinic in Vienna, Austria, for weeks. But after making a recovery from the illness he was discharged from the medical centre at 08:00 a.m. and was taken straight to the airport so he can be at home for Christmas.
AKH staff member told Austrian newspaper Osterreich: “He’s feeling a lot better. He’s doing so well, he’s able to fly again.”
Yesterday George Michael’s doctors revealed he was feeling much better and had responded well to treatment.
Christoph Zielinski – one of his doctors – said: “We know he’s doing fine and we are generally optimistic.”
Last week, George Michael’s boyfriend Fadi Fawaz tweeted the pop superstar would be flying back to England for Christmas.
Fadi Fawaz said: “Christmas at home. I cannot stop smiling today, the best day ever. He is getting better and better. Nothing to worry about, happy days.”
The tweet has since been removed.
Pop star George Michael has been released from the Austrian hospital and is flying back to England today after almost five weeks
George Michael had to cancel all the remaining shows on his “Symphonica Tour” when he fell ill in November.
In late November, a statement released by George Michael’s doctors revealed that the singer was “improving steadily”.
They made clear that the pop star will need a period of “complete rest” to recover from the illness but emphasized he had no further underlying health problems.
In a statement, Professors Gottfried Locker and Christoph Zielinski said: “The latest development in Mr. Michael’s case, which has evolved from a severe pneumococcal infection, necessitated intensive care due to its severity and extension.
“We are happy to announce that Mr. Michael is improving steadily with an impressive regression of pneumonic symptoms and follows a steady rate of improvement as hoped.
“There are no other health issues with regards to the patient other than the underlying pneumonic disorder, and no further measures had to be taken.”
They continued: “Mr. Michael is receiving precisely the same treatment as any ordinary patient in Austria would receive at the hospital for this disease.”
Doctors said “complete rest and peace and quiet are mandatory for his recovery”.
George Michael’s official website has urged fans to send well wishes to him via his Facebook page.
It also announced the re-release of George Michael’s festive single December Song (I Dream of Christmas).
George Michael, who is in AKH hospital in Vienna suffering from severe pneumonia, has been joined by his 75-year-old father Kyriacos Panayiotou – known as Jack Panos – as well as older sisters Melanie, 49 and Yioda, 53.
George Michael’s former boyfriend, art dealer Kenny Goss, 53, is also due to join the group.
His current boyfriend, hair stylist Fadi Fawaz has been with the star throughout his ordeal.
George Michael, who is in AKH hospital in Vienna suffering from severe pneumonia, has been joined by his family
Kenny Goss, who split from Michael in 2009, will jet to Vienna from the US, where he has galleries in both Dallas and New York.
A friend said: “Kenny of course is very concerned. Kenny has been very supportive throughout this.
“He is planning to come. He’s been in touch every single day. They are very close still. Kenny and George will always be the best of friends.”
The AKH is Europe’s largest hospital with 1,600 doctors, including world experts in pneumonia treatment. Experts say that pneumonia is especially difficult to treat because it is hard to diagnose, meaning that immediate specialist care is often vital in severe cases such as George Michael’s.
Specialists at AKH decided to bring in the futuristic Triadyne Proventa bed – which helps breathing pneumonia patients in a critical condition – which is believed to have saved the George Michael’s life.
According to his friends, George Michael, 48, was fortunate to be taken ill in Vienna, where he was able to be admitted to a hospital which is renowned for its “pioneering, amazing” work with regards to the potentially fatal illness.
Australian-born Fadi Fawaz, 38, appeared tired and drawn as he left the hospital where George Mchael is battling severe pneumonia during the weekend.
Fadi Fawaz anxiously fiddled with his mobile telephone after visiting Vienna’s AKH Hospital where he has kept a vigil by George Michael’s bedside for a week.
Fadi Fawaz was accompanied by two women, believed to by George Michael’s sisters, one of whom held her head in her hands in the hospital lobby as she waited for the car to collect them.
George Michael’s fans from across Europe have also visited the hospital in the Austrian capital to wish him well.
George Michael was rushed to hospital last week after he fell ill just hours before he was due on stage in the city.
As a result, on Friday, the rest of his Symphonica tour, which was due to go on until Christmas, was called off.
There were also claims George Michael had been in a coma and that he is also suffering from heart problems, though, have been dismissed by aides.
On Friday, a statement was issued revealing George Michael’s condition is ‘severe community acquired pneumonia.’
Prof. Dr. Christoph Zielinski, Chairman, Department of Medicine General Hospital – Medical University Vienna, Austria and Prof. Dr. Thomas Staudinger, Specialist in Internal Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine said then: “George Michael has severe community acquired pneumonia and is being treated as an inpatient.
“His condition has stabilized and he is responding to treatment. From the current point of view, the time until recovery cannot be estimated, but he will not be able to perform the rest of the tour. Besides medical treatment, complete rest and peace and quiet are mandatory.”
Karin Fehringer, spokeswoman for the AKH hospital yesterday declined to comment on George Michael’s condition, but said: “We are Europe’s largest hospital and we have advanced specialist care for pneumonia treatment.”
