GEORGE MICHAEL CANCELS AUSTRALIAN SHOWS

Pop star George Michael has cancelled an Australian tour because he is still struggling to deal with the trauma of coming close to dying from pneumonia.

Michael made the announced on his website, saying that he is heartbroken to have disappointed his Australian fans.

“By way of explanation all I can say at this time is that since last year’s illness I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience,” said the singer.

“They recommended complete rest and the type of post traumatic counselling which is available in cases like mine but I’m afraid I believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself.

“Unfortunately I seriously underestimated how difficult this year would be and although I was right to believe that the shows would bring me great happiness and that my voice would recover completely (I truly think that some of my recent performances have been my best ever) I was wrong to think I could work my way through the major anxiety that has plagued me since I left Austria last December,” he said.

Michael was hospitalised in Vienna, Austria in November last year with severe pneumonia after his condition deteriorated just hours before he was set to perform in the city.

He cancelled concerts in his ‘Symphonica’ tour and spent weeks in intensive care amid speculation about the seriousness of his condition before finally being discharged and returning to the UK.

Michael apologised to his Australian fans and said that once he had completed his UK shows he “will receive the treatment which is so long overdue”.