It will be some months before it is clear whether George Michael's voice has survived his month-long brush with death.
His pneumonia infection, which causes the lungs to fill with secretions, resulting in a sensation of drowning, was so severe that he required a tracheotomy to save his life.
That involved surgically inserting a tube at the base of his throat directly into his trachea, or windpipe, through which oxygen was pumped to ventilate his lungs.
Although the incision was made below the voicebox, the operation can result in scarring of the trachea with permanent effects on the voice.
The 48-year-old singer fell ill in Austria on his Symphonica world tour after playing 45 shows in 35 cities, and was forced to cancel the 14 remaining dates.