Tyler's critical recovery.
Bonnie Tyler awakens from coma after emergency surgery, remains critical in intensive care.
Key Points
In addition to waking from the coma, Tyler’s team said her induced coma was initiated after emergency surgery for an intestinal problem (described as a bowel tear/perforation). One report further claims she later suffered a cardiac arrest and needed resuscitation as her condition worsened.
Tyler’s family addressed rumors circulating about her condition, with a spokesperson saying the family was “distressed by many ‘lurid and untrue rumours’” before the latest update.
The statement announcing the cancellations also tied to a specific summer itinerary: Tyler had been booked for a run of European festival shows in Germany and Austria before ending with an appearance at the Sunshine Music Festival in Upton upon Severn, UK on August 29.
Her “no longer in a coma” update was posted via her official communications/official website channel, repeating that she remained “very unwell” and in intensive care in Faro, Portugal, while adding: “Although Bonnie is improving it is a slow process.”
Bonnie Tyler, 75, has woken from a medically induced coma after spending roughly 39 days unconscious in a hospital in Faro, Portugal, her team confirmed on June 15. The "Total Eclipse of the Heart" singer remains "very unwell" and is still in intensive care, according to Louder Sound. Her recovery is described as a "slow process."
The health crisis began in early May when Tyler underwent emergency surgery for a perforated intestine — a tear in the bowel that can quickly become life-threatening. Doctors placed her in a medically induced coma on May 7 to help her body heal. She turned 75 in the ICU on June 8, still unconscious.
A Cardiac Arrest Made a Dire Situation Worse
Tyler's condition worsened sharply in mid-May. According to Fox News, doctors suffered a setback when they first tried to bring her out of the coma: she went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated. Her team put out a "seriously ill but stable" update on May 12.
Her official representatives later pushed back on some of these reports. They called certain accounts "lurid and untrue rumours" and identified a man named Liberto Mealha as an unauthorized source who "does not represent them in any way." The family said the false stories caused them significant distress.
Family Pleads for Privacy as Summer Shows Are Scrapped
Tyler's husband Robert Sullivan, her partner of 53 years, has been at her bedside in Portugal throughout her stay. The family has asked for privacy and said it will only share updates when there are meaningful changes in her condition. Her manager Matt Davis has been the main voice for public updates.
All summer shows are now cancelled. Tyler had been booked for festival dates across Germany and Austria, with a final appearance at the Sunshine Music Festival in Upton upon Severn, UK, on August 29. That entire run is off. AOL reported that her team announced the cancellations alongside the news that she had woken up.
Jubilee Tour Hangs in the Balance for October
Despite the severity of her condition, Tyler's team says it remains "hopeful" that her Jubilee Tour will go ahead. The tour marks 50 years since her first hit, "Lost in France," in 1976. It is currently scheduled to open in Bucharest, Romania, on October 23 and close in Cardiff, Wales, on December 17, spanning 20-plus cities.
Whether Tyler can perform will depend on her mobility and strength by late September. Experts note that recovering from a month-long coma at 75, following major abdominal surgery, is an extremely slow process. Her team has not commented on any potential impact to her voice from being on a breathing tube for nearly six weeks, according to WZDM.
Streams Surge While Fans Wait for Next Update
Public interest in Tyler's music has spiked since news of her hospitalization broke in May. Streams of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero" are up an estimated 15 to 20 percent. Death hoaxes and AI-generated images of Tyler in the hospital circulated on social media in late May, adding to the family's distress.
Her official team has urged fans to rely only on her official website for updates. The June 15 statement confirmed she is "aware of the global support" she has received. No photos or video of Tyler are expected for several months as she begins rehabilitation. The next significant update is not expected until late August, when the fate of the autumn tour will become clearer, according to WFMD.
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