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Opera singer Russell Watson is in a critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery to treat a bleeding brain tumour.
The Salford-born tenor, who had a benign brain tumour removed last year, was operated on for three-hours today and remains in the Intensive Therapy Unit of a Cheshire hospital.
This afternoon, the executive director of the Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle, Mr Michael Stroud, confirmed: “Russell Watson was rushed into The Alexandra Hospital around 5pm yesterday evening. He was recording in the studio when he suddenly became incapacitated with multiple symptoms including a dramatic deterioration of vision.”
“After an MRI scan had shown re-growth of a previous brain tumour and some bleeding, he was recommended to undergo emergency surgery.”
Watson, 40, was taken into surgery at 11am, following a visit by his two young daughters.
Dr Thomas Stuttaford, The Times doctor, said bleeding from brain tumours can cause severe problems: “A bleed will extend beyond the tumour and damage the surrounding healthy tissue.” Depending on the tissue affected, patients can suffer from loss of speech, paralysis or loss of consciousness.
“A patient’s immediate prognosis will depend on the ability to stop the bleeding and to remove as much of any tumour as is possible,” said Dr Stuttaford.
Watson suffered headaches for several years before being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2006. He had been told the headaches were stress-related but after he lost his periphery vision last year, he was given an MRI scan. A tumour the size of two golf balls was discovered. One was in the frontal cavity of his brain and the other sat at the top of his nose. He was operated on at St George’s Hospital in South London last October.
In an interview with The Times, earlier this year, Watson spoke of being told of the tumour: “Since an early age I’d had an in-built premonition, a vision that I wouldn’t make 40. For the previous seven years I’d had a recurring nightmare in which my head exploded. And here I was with a brain tumour.”
Although the operation was considered a success, the tenor struggled to regain his health as the tumour affected his pituarity gland, which controls hormones: “My mood swings went from ecstatic to suicidal.” The singer didn’t leave the house for two months after he was released from hospital. “I couldn’t deal with more than one person at a time or with multitasking and I cried easily,” he said.
Brain tumours are both difficult to remove and to prevent returning, said Dr Stuttaford. “Unfortunately even with the greatly improved treatment for cerebral tumours, reoccurrence is still common.”
Watson’s brand of populist opera has seen him sell four million albums worldwide.
He worked as a welder before he decided to try his luck singing in clubs. In 1999 he was spotted performing Puccini’s Nessun Dorma in a working men’s club and invited to perform at Old Trafford before Manchester United’s last Premiership match of the season. The performance launched his career and he was soon branded “The Voice”.
He was due to perform in the US, at a Bafta awards ceremony for British artists living in America, next week.
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Russell,
i'm 16 years old and you are such an inspiration to me (and the rest of my family) i have listened to you since i was about 12! thank you for everything.
i'm also so excited because i'm going to see you live in march, yay! can't wait.
see you there. x
charlotte watts, norwich,
Dear Russel,
Hope you are now well and safe.
You have been in my mind and prayers constantly since I heard about your illness.
Your music has meant so much to me personally as I'm sure it has to millions worldwide.
You have a precious talent with such a wide vocal range, I'm just crazy about anything you sing, for you sing the classics like no other.
You have uplifted my spirits so many times, and for me you represent a better side of life.
May God Bless you and keep you safe.
I have told my friends in Malta about ,and you have impressed them also.
My one wish would be to hear you at a live concert, I hope to realise that dream soon.
Ray Pisani
Ray Pisani, Sliema, Malta
God Bless you Russell You have had so many prayers said for you love and best wishes to you and your family xx
TINA, Waltham Abbey, Essex U. K.
Dearest Russell we thank God for healing and bid you a speedy recovery. You still have to come vsit us in South Africa
so don't over do things.
Hugs & Love.
Dina Renwick
Dina, Pinetown / Durban, South Africa
Davido" from cambridge i was in a simula sate in tenarife hospital one of the best in the world , Dr migal saved my life only only had 20 mins left i am o so lucky like you will be " Russell"
Iknow how you are feeling but ,only part of you is feeling ,
so if we have to wait for the singer ,THE VOICE . of this centenary , then i ask all to pray for you in this way evey day ask for help from sprit and light up a candle this well create a power of healing from all the world and if we all do this together it does work so help me to help save the life of this fantastic man love to you and all of you how we try to help god bless you my friend , for the gift of life for the gift of the voice
for Russell" we all love you , any way if you ever read this I realy would like to sing with you one day
David & carol Denny The Old bakery .west wratting .cambridge ,
as i now ask the wonderfull world to heal you ,
David & Carol, cambridge, cambridgeshire
I discovered Russell Watson a few years ago when a friend of mine sent me the video of him in concert in Leeds. I have played that concert a million times and introduced my friends to him and his music, just like I was also introduced by someone to Eva Cassidy and again introduced her to all my friends. Please do not let the same thing happen to Russell, I pray for you and send all my messages to give you that little bit extra strengh you need.xxxxxx
Christine Medley, Spain.
christinemedley, Estepona, Spain
I am so so sorry to hear that my favorite singer is so very ill and I pray for his recovery. I am an almost 80 year old who emigrated to Australia in 1973 with my family. I have all his CD's and play them all the time, he is an uplifing singer and they have meant a lot to me because I lost my Darling husband with stomach cancer 3 years ago. Please God let him get over this dreadful illness. Joy Gillam.
Joy Gillam, Adelaide, South Australia
my husband and myself had the pleasure of hearing Russel sing live at the N.I.A. Birmingham this year.he was marvellous.nobody would let him leave the stage. He was just getting over the previous surgery, and this latest news is devastating and so unlucky for it to happen to such a wonderful person who has bought so much pleasure to so many of us.We are hoping and praying for you that you can spend so much more time with your beloved daughters and the rest of your family and friends.Then you can come back you us your fans from all over the world.God bless
janetand john Goucher, COVENTRY, england
I am very sorry to hear of Russells illness and would like to send my Best Wishes for a speedy recovery. He has given so many people many happy hours listening to his marvellous music and am looking forward to his record out next month. Thank you for the happy hours you have given me and hope you Get Well soon.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Elizabeth Powell, Chester, Cheshire.
Elizabeth Powell, Chester, Cheshire, England
Tumours seem to reoccur later. Having read several books by doctors the answer seems to be with the immune system. Their treatment is nutrition and a low glycemic diet with no dairy or meat. The food should be raw and live. This means carefully prepared food from Mother Nature. Gabriel cousins MD, the tree of life has researched this. Surgery can be sometimes temporary. I hope sufferers can look for their cure
Arthur Brocklebank, Liverpool, England
Tumours seem to reoccur later. Having read several books by doctors the answer seems to be with the immune system. Their treatment is nutrition and a low glycemic diet with no dairy or meat. The food should be raw and live. This means carefully prepared food from Mother Nature. Gabriel cousens MD, the tree of life has researched this. Surgery can be sometimes temporary. I hope sufferers can look for their cure
Arthur Brocklebank, Liverpool, England
Such devastating news. Russell introduced me to classical music. He brought back much needed hope and emotion into my life. He is a wonderful person as well as singer. Each evening, I look forward to the minute when I put on one of Russells CD's. No words can describe the sheer joy, the great lift I feel, as soon as his voice starts to sing and I'm 'in another world'. PLEASE Russell.. you have so much more to give yet, so much more happiness to bring to people all over the world. I send my love and hope to you dear Russell, and to your daughters too. XX
Barb, Wirral, UK
I am devastated with the news of Russell' s tumour. Many people are praying for him, He is too wonderful to lose. Even if it meant he could not sing again, we want him to be well and happy. The world would be a much poorer place without him.
phillippa shepley, TOWNSVILLE, Australia
We wish him every luck. I hope his premenitions don't come true.
Janet, Torquay, Devon, England, UK
I have just heard about Russell's latest illness, and immediately logged on to his website, and read the latest update. I am very saddened by this, and would like to wish him a very speedy recovery, and hope to see hime back on the circuit very soon.
King regards
Carole Curson
Carole Curson, Bedford, England
Ivor Moss - I would think that you diagnosing any "exact cause" based on information in any newspaper article is rather silly.
Ian, London, England
I saw Russell in concert in Llandudno last year and he was absolutely wonderful and came across as such a lovely person. I hope and pray he comes through this - I know he lived for his two little girls (he referred to them so many times in his show). Please, please come through this Russell - we love you as a person as well as a great performerxxxxxx
Pat Lloyd, Denbigh, North Wales, UK
I would think that a large benign memingioma is the exact cause. It gradually increases the the size of the lesion and it eventually it becomes too large and the CNS becomes a sudden vascular catastrophy needing urgent surgery. I wwould like to know the details. Thank you
Ivor Moss, London, London UK
Russell Watson is one of my favorite singers. Please let his family know that my thoughts and prayers are with him and them at this time. I hope and pray that he makes a full and complete recovery and can some day return to sharing his wonderful gift to the world.
Donna M. Pursell, Springfield, Michigan USA