The Wanted lead singer Max George to have heart surgery after health scare

Max George with a fan at Auckland Airport in 2012. Photo / Neville Marriner

A member of the popular British boy band The Wanted says he is “very lucky” an issue with his heart was caught when it was as he prepares to have surgery.

Singer Max George, 36, told his 367,000 Instagram followers he would be spending Christmas in hospital after feeling “really unwell” on Thursday (NZT).

The band, which George is in with Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness and Nathan Sykes, are responsible for popular radio hits like Glad You Came (2011) and Chasing The Sun (2012).

He posted a picture from his hospital bed wearing a gown and heart monitor across his chest on Friday (NZT), saying the news was a “huge shock and no doubt a setback”.

“Unfortunately, after some tests, they’ve found that I have some issues with my heart,” the singer posted.

“I have a lot more tests to determine the extent of the problems and what surgery I will need to get me back on my feet”.

Max George of The Wanted has to have heart surgery.

George went on to say that he expected it would be “a difficult few weeks” and that spending Christmas in a hospital bed wasn’t exactly what he had planned but thanked his family and friends for their support.

“As always, I’m surrounded with love and support by my wonderful partner Maisie [Smith], her family, my family and friends ... and I’m 100% in the best place.”

The singer still seemed to be in high spirits despite his serious situation.

“Apologies if I bore you with updates in the coming weeks ... I’ve probably got a month in a bed and there’s not THAT much to do!” he joked.

Siva Kaneswaran, Nathan Sykes, Max George and Jay McGuiness of The Wanted perform on stage at Motorpoint Arena Cardiff on March 2022. Photo / Getty Images

Later, in another post, the football fan also joked about Juventus beating Manchester City 2-0 in the Champions League that day.

“So I think they are officially trying to kill me off ... come on boys”.

The shock hospitalisation is not the first time the singer has been faced with medical issues. George has been open with the media about his ongoing struggles with binge drinking and alcoholism.

Daily Mail UK reported that the singer previously admitted to drinking “10 pints and three bottles of wine in one night”.

He revealed he used alcohol to “adapt” to the spotlight and to help ease his anxiety during what he described as his “lowest ever point”.

George also said the loss of former The Wanted bandmate Tom Parker in 2022 aged 33 after his battle with stage four glioblastoma also prompted him to stop drinking.

The Wanted were last in New Zealand in 2012 for a private show at a secret location in Auckland for the winners of a radio competition.