Westlife star Mark Feehily has announced his temporary departure from the Irish boyband, just days before they were set to embark on their first ever tour of America.
Feehily enjoyed enormous commercial success across the United Kingdom, Ireland and mainland Europe with bandmates Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Brian McFadden and Nicky Byrne following their formation in 1998.
But prolonged ill-health and has resulted in the singer, 43, withdrawing from the band in a bid to recover after being diagnosed with sepsis.
Taking to Instagram, he wrote: ‘Hello and much love to you all! It’s Mark here.. Most of you are aware that I have had some health challenges over the past while.
‘It actually all started 3.5 years ago in August 2020 when I had surgery. Within a few days of this surgery I was in severe pain and was rushed into A&E.
Westlife star Mark Feehily has announced his temporary departure from the Irish boyband, just days before they were set to embark on their first ever tour of America
‘I eventually ended that awful day in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where I was informed that due to a complication with the 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 added: ‘I spent the next few months in hospital. It was during lockdown. For months, due to strict Covid restrictions, I was not allowed any visitors including my fiance and my then 10-month-old daughter.
‘It was physically and mentally a very difficult time, not to mention traumatic having to spend so long in ICU.’
‘In late 2021, I became very ill in Newcastle before a concert and ended up back in A&E, this time being told I had pneumonia. I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December.
‘I was referred to a consultant who told me I needed more surgery which I went ahead with in May 2022 meaning I was forced to miss more of The Wild Dreams tour.
‘Three months after that surgery, I tried my best to soldier on for you guys and to go back on tour but unfortunately the physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel were proving too much for me.
‘I developed a very large ‘incisional hernia’ and I was told that I needed further surgery to fix it. This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option.’
‘I developed a very large ‘incisional hernia’ and I was told that I needed further surgery to fix it. This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option.’
Feehily enjoyed enormous commercial success across the United Kingdom, Ireland and mainland Europe with bandmates Shane Filan, Kian Egan , Brian McFadden and Nicky Byrne
Confirming his temporary hiatus from the band, he wrote: ‘It is with the upmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down from all Westlife touring until a time ote: that I have had the chance to fully recover from the turbulent journey I have been through as an individual.
‘Believe me, I wish things could be different! I would like to thank you so very much for your support and understanding of me and my health over the past few years.’
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused when the body releases chemicals to fight an infection.
These chemicals damage the body’s own tissues and organs and can lead to shock, organ failure and death.
Organ failure and death are more likely if sepsis is not recognised early and treated immediately.
Mark’s exit from the group comes after a string of health woes in recent years, with the singer forced to drop out of Westlife’s summer shows back in May.
He revealed to his fans online that he had been given strict order by his doctor to rest after having surgery.
Mark wrote: ‘Hey lovely people, it’s Mark here. This summer, our Wild Dreams tour continues and we are so blessed for the huge love and support we receive from our fans worldwide. We have five shows taking place this summer from May – July.
‘And it is with deep regret that I will not be able to join Shane, Kian and Nicky on stage for those shows.’
Mark explained: ‘This week I have to undergo a little bit of surgery.
‘There is nothing to worry about I promise, but under doctor’s orders this surgery needs to happen sooner rather than later and will also require some recovery time throughout the summer.
‘To all our amazing fans in Denmark, Sweden, Mexico, Cardiff and Henley, I want you to know that I was very excited to see you all and perform but this is something that can’t be avoided and I know that you will all still have the time of your lives at what will be some amazing shows!
‘I’ll be there with you all in spirit and very much look forward to getting back on stage with the lads very soon!
‘Much love to you all and keep in touch – I’ll still be around to say hi. YOU’LL BE MISSED’
His band mate Nicky Byrne showed support by leaving strong arm and heart emojis in the comments section underneath the caption.
Mark had also previously overcome a battle with pneumonia which forced him to take time away from work, beforegetting the all-clear in January 2023.
Sharing a clip of himself grinning at the camera, Markus wrote: ‘Hey all, great news… I’ll be FLYING WITHOUT WINGS once more! Finally the doctor has said that I can start getting myself back to normal.
‘I was in his waiting room earlier worried he was going to tell me, “no you’re still not right” but he was very happy with how I am doing.’
Mark said he has struggled over the last few weeks since he was forced to pull out of a Westlife show in Manchester back in November.
He said: ‘I have so much thanks to give. I won’t lie, although there are lots of people much worse off than me, the past 6 weeks have been very difficult.
‘Weirdly the most difficult thing was not being ill (that wasn’t easy either!) it was having no choice but to sit back and watch my own band be on tour without me and miss all of the shared moments of joy and happiness with the other lads onstage and of course the interaction with the audiences and fans.
‘@ShaneFilanOfficial, @NickyByrneInsta and @KianEgan you three legends, you lads re-choreographed and re-arranged the entire show with about 1hrs notice that evening in Newcastle when I had to make the horrible phone call to tell you I couldn’t do the show…
‘The way you handled it shows how talented and professional you 3 are! You kept the @westlife flag flying for the rest of December and I’m so grateful for that. Love ❤️’.
Mark had been performing around the world with Shane Filan, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne on The Wild Dreams Tour, which is set to conclude in Bangkok in February.
Their tour hasn’t been without peril, with Nicky falling through the stage at their Glasgow gig, leaving him with red raw bruises.
Mark urged fans not to worry as he informed them of his pneumonia diagnosis, stating although it was ‘scary’ to hear ‘everything is currently under control.’
He penned: ‘Firstly, I’d like to say a sincere thank you to everybody for sending their love and get well soon messages – it means so much.
‘I really was gutted to miss the weekend shows in Newcastle but I started to feel quite unwell on Friday and the doctors have confirmed that it is a bout of pneumonia.’
Mark continued: ‘I know it’s scary when you first hear the word ‘pneumonia’, but thankfully, I got to the doctor and the hospital very quickly and got on the antibiotics as soon as possible. So everything is currently under control.
‘I have been informed that the quickest way to recovery is to rest and continue the antibiotics. I’m feeling a bit better every day. The nurses and doctors are taking amazing care of me, so it should all be over in no time.
