Max George has expressed his joy at being home for Christmas after undergoing emergency heart surgery that threatened to keep him in hospital over the festive season.
After experiencing cardiac issues earlier this month, the 36-year-old pop star was admitted for treatment and had a pacemaker fitted. Fans of The Wanted singer were worried he would have to spend Christmas day in hospital, but the former Presdton North End youth player delighted them with news of his discharge on Christmas Eve.
Sharing in the comfort of his home, Max took to Instagram posting a cosy photo with his girlfriend, Maisie Smith, 23, who donned a festive red hat, captioning it: “It’s so good to be home” with a heart emoji added for warmth. He also posted an image showing off a beautifully decorated Christmas table.
Fans rushed to comment on the post, with Katie Tulip saying: “I’m so glad your finally home for Christmas. There’s no place like home. Sending you all my love.”
Nathan head wrote: “Best news ever!! Buzzing to see you home and on the road to recovery lad.” Natalie added: “Glad you made it home for Christmas” while Yolanda said: “Glad you can be home on Christmas.”
Despite acknowledging feeling “battered and bruised” while still in the hospital, Max looked forward to his release, later confirming from home on Instagram: “Merry Christmas, everyone. I just wanted to say that I’m back home waiting for my beautiful girlfriend to arrive at some point. Best present ever.”
Earlier this week, he shared the news of his hospital discharge with fans in a video message through his Instagram Story. The clip showed Max – who rose to fame as a member of the Wanted – lying in a hospital bed as he gave an update on the situation, reports the Mirror.
He shared: “It’s time to go home. The numbers are way, way better. Feel knackered. Slept a lot today. Few more tests to do over the next couple of weeks – something to do with my lungs, but … that’s the least of my worries right now. So yep, all good. A bit battered and bruised and knackered but …”
It comes after the singer first announced that he was in hospital almost two weeks ago. Max later told fans that he had a ‘block’ in his heart and more recently had surgery.
The star revealed the operation took around two and a half hours. He confirmed that the pacemaker had been fitted in a post shared just days ago, sharing a photo that showed a scar on his collarbone, located just below a tattoo of his late bandmate Tom Parker’s date of birth.
The Glad You Came star wrote: “Say hello to my little friend! Given the last 10 days, this is the best Christmas present I could have ever wished for. Pacemaker is in. Operation took around 2 and half hours. The main issue being some of my veins had collapsed where the wires were meant to go… But the hospital surgeons, doctors and nurses at the NHS have been incredible. I owe everything to them. The surgeon kindly put my pacemaker just underneath a very special tattoo of mine.. So I’m sure it’s being looked after.”
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