George Shelley has revealed that a major artery in his throat was slashed during botched surgery to remove his tonsils earlier this year.
The X Factor star, 31, explained how he was trapped in hospital for a week during which time former Union J bandmate Jaymi Hensley’s fiancé Oliver Marmon tragically died.
Oliver, 33, died after plummeting 30ft from the third floor of a three-star Hind Hotel in Wellingborough, Northampton, on August 12, just weeks ahead of his wedding to Jaymi.
George told The Sun: ‘It’s been a really tough year to be honest. I had my tonsils out and my artery was cut in two and I was in hospital for a week.
‘I lost a lot of blood and during that I was bereaved, my bandmate’s fiance Olly, and dealing with grief again.’
In 2017 George’s sister Harriet tragically died at the age of just 21, after she was hit by a car and suffered serious head injuries.
George Shelley, 31, has revealed that a major artery in his throat was slashed during botched surgery to remove his tonsils earlier this year.
The X Factor star explained how he was trapped in hospital for a week during which time former Union J bandmate Jaymi Hensley’s fiancé Oliver Marmon tragically died (L-R Oliver and Jaymi)
George said: ‘It’s been a really tough year to be honest. I had my tonsils out and my artery was cut in two and I was in hospital for a week, ‘I lost a lot of blood and during that I was bereaved’ (Pictured with Jaymi and Oliver)
Speaking about how pal Jaymi has dealt with his grief he said: ‘I’m so proud of him. He’s kept working. He’s creating happiness for himself by performing and that’s what Olly loved with Jaymi. He was a really great rock for me during my grief and I want to be that for him.’
Jaymi spent more than a decade and in September took to Instagram to say that the couple’s wedding turned into the date of his Oliver’s funeral.
He wrote: ‘This is the first photo from the night I met you! Tomorrow should have been the happiest day of our lives, we should have been saying our vows and saying I do, but instead it will be the day I lay you to rest.
‘I will never be ready, I miss you so much! I love you more than I’ve ever loved any one.’
An inquest into Oliver’s death was opened this month, and adjourned until March 12 by the assistant coroner for Northamptonshire, Hassan Shah.
He said the ‘provisional cause of death is head injuries, pending further tests’, and the body had been released to his family.
Hairstylist Oliver and Jaymi had been in a relationship since 2009 with the loved-up couple announcing their engagement in 2014.
They met when they were both aged 18 and recently shared smiling selfies of themselves on Instagram on trips to Norway and France.
In 2017 George’s sister Harriet tragically died at the age of just 21, after she was hit by a car and suffered serious head injuries.
Oliver, 33, died after plummeting 30ft from the third floor of a three-star Hind Hotel in Wellingborough, Northampton, on August 12, just weeks ahead of his wedding to Jaymi
Union J in 2014 (L-R) JJ Hamblett, George Shelley, Josh Cuthbert and Jaymi Hensley
The couple were due to wed on September 24, with Jaymi last year using a quote from the late Queen Elizabeth II to describe Oliver as his ‘strength and stay’ during their 14-year relationship.
In 2018 George admitted he came close to suicide after losing his sister, revealing he became agoraphobic and was put on anti-depressants in the aftermath of her death.
Speaking about the stigma of mental illness and bereavement, George was asked if he had ever considered suicide, to which he replied: ‘I mean, I was in a… I don’t want to say the words because I don’t even want to think that myself, but I wasn’t well and that’s the honest truth of it.
‘I was seeing a therapist. He recommended anti-depressants three times, by the third time he said, “this is it, come on, George,” and I was afraid of what people would think of me.
‘By the third time I accepted it. Understanding what you’re going through and knowing these things are there to help you for the time-being.
‘The medication and support with medical professionals helps you, it clears the path for you.
In 2018 George admitted he came close to suicide after losing his sister, revealing he became agoraphobic and was put on anti-depressants in the aftermath of her death (pictured together)
Harriet, 21, was killed on April 28, 2017, after she suffered fatal head injuries outside the O2 Academy in Bristol shortly before midnight, as she ran out into the road
‘It’s helped me learn how to talk about it, I go to a siblings retreat where siblings who’ve lost their brothers and sisters meet up.’
George also spoke about how he became agoraphobic towards the end of last year as it drew nearer to Harriet’s birthday, which was on Christmas Day.
Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.
He said: ‘Towards the end of last year I was in a really rubbish place I needed to get out of that.
‘My sister’s birthday was Christmas day, so getting past that as a family was really testing.
