Mark Feehily's years-long health woes as Westlife icon makes agonising decision

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Mark Feehily sadly won't be rejoining his Westlife bandmates on stage for the band's 25th anniversary celebrations, as his temporary break from the group is extended
Westlife fans are waking up gutted this morning following the sad announcement that Mark Feehily won't be joining the band's 25th anniversary celebrations. Mark announced his shock exit from the Irish group last year, amid some serious health battles, but many had been hopeful he would return to the stage soon.
"It is with the utmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down from all Westlife touring until a time that I have had the chance to fully recover from the turbulent journey I have been through as an individual," Mark emotionally revealed in February 2024.
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It sadly looks like Mark's temporary break has been extended for the foreseeable."Sadly, Mark will be unable to join the celebrations. We hope he can join us back on stage when he is ready and able. He sends his love and positivity to you all as always," Westlife wrote in a statement shared with fans on Wednesday night, signed by Mark alongside his bandmates.
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Mark has been quiet over recent months, rarely posting to social media. His health troubles began five years ago when he underwent surgery and developed severe sepsis due to complications.
August 2020
Mark shared with his fans that he was "rushed to A&E" just days after the operation, showing symptoms of the potentially deadly infection, which required immediate emergency surgery.
"I had developed severe sepsis, a life threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life", he told fans at the time.
After the emergency procedure, Mark spent several months in hospital, including a lengthy stay in intensive care during a particularly challenging and scary time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I spent the next few months in hospital," Mark recalled. "For months, due to the strict Covid restrictions, I was not allowed any visitors including my fiancé and my then 10-month-old daughter.
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"It was physically and mentally a very difficult time, not to mention traumatic having to spend so long in ICU. I was eventually discharged from hospital in December 2020 but I have had ongoing medical problems as a result of it all."
November 2021
Despite recovering enough to join his Westlife bandmates on their Wild Dreams tour in 2021, Mark was forced to withdraw from the tour later that year after falling seriously ill with pneumonia before a UK concert.
"I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December," a dejected Mark confirmed.
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May 2022
In May 2022, Mark underwent further surgery and three months post-operation he attempted to "soldier on" for his fans by returning to the tour. However, he confessed that the "physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel" were too much.
He developed "a very large incisional hernia" and later that year, Mark had yet another operation to "fix it". "This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option."
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February 2024
After enduring his fourth operation in as many years, Mark announced that he is temporarily stepping back from all Westlife touring until he can fully recuperate from the "turbulent journey" he has been on.
"That surgery took place recently and thankfully it went according to plan but with that, my recovery must now become my absolute priority at this time."
With a heavy heart, Mark announced that he will be taking a temporary break from Westlife's touring schedule, saying: "It is with the utmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down for all Westlife touring until a time that I have had the chance to fully recover from the turbulent journey I have been through as an individual."
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He reassured fans, "Believe me, I wish things could be different," and urged them, "please don't worry".
June 2004 - Final Instagram post
In June 2004, a few months on from announcing his break from Westlife duties, Mark returned to social media to launch a new line of clothes by Human Collective to celebrate Pride month.
"As much as I've been on a bit of a social media detox, I have jumped on a couple of times and I just wanted to say a huge heartfelt thank you for all of the amazing messages," Mark says towards the end of his video message. "I'm proud to have you guys as fans and on that note, Happy Pride from my family to yours and we'll see you very, very soon. Lots of love."
In the wake of Westlife and Mark's announcement on Wednesday night, fans have been commenting on Mark's year-old video. "We miss you, Mark. I'm hoping you're feeling OK and we can see you on stage as soon as you're feeling," one told the star today, with another adding: "Just realised it's been a year since this last post. We hope you are ok."