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Westlife star Mark Feehily is suing a surgeon over weight-loss surgery in a private hospital he says caused recurring sepsis.
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he → see → sepsis
The 46-year-old stopped touring with the hit band two years ago amid a period of ill health, undergoing at least four major surgeries since 2020.
He spent months in an intensive care unit during the Covid-19 pandemic, before suffering from pneumonia, a chest infection and developing a large incisional hernia.
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He → tour → hernia
Mr Feehily claims in his court documents that the problems all stem from a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a type of weight-loss surgery, he received in 2020 at Spire Portsmouth Hospital in Hampshire, The Times reports.
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Times → claim → Hampshire
The musician alleges that Nick Carter, a bariatric surgeon, left behind a portion of tissue that became infected, because he had failed to remove enough of his stomach during the procedure.
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he → allege → procedure
This caused a dangerous leak which left him with recurrent sepsis and severe abdominal infections, Mr Feehily says in the documents - and meant he had to have his entire stomach removed in an operation in May 2023.
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stomach → cause → May
Carter denies claims of negligence.
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Carter → deny → negligence
The claim was lodged with the High Court in 2025 and is valued at over £200,000 but Mr Feehily's legal team, Leigh Day Solicitors, have outlined a baseline threshold meaning the case can go to the highest court level and a larger sum can be claimed should they win.
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they → lodge → level
A preliminary split trial is expected to take place at the court between May 28 and July 31, although if Mr Feehily is successful no damages will be decided during this period.
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damages → expect → period
Westlife star Mark Feehily, pictured in 2022, is suing a surgeon over weight-loss surgery in a private hospital he claims in court documents caused recurring sepsis
The musician alleges that Nick Carter, a bariatric surgeon, pictured, left behind a portion of tissue that became infected, because he had failed to remove enough of his stomach
The court will decide if Carter was negligent and whether Feehily's severe complications were a result of the surgeon's actions.
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complications → picture → actions
Witness statements are expected to be filed on Monday and will be followed by expert surgical and radiology reports in November.
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statements → expect → November
Leigh Day partner Suzanne White said: 'Mark has been dedicated to keeping his fans updated on his health during a period that has been extremely challenging for him, but he has faced it all with his characteristic strength and resilience.
'
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he → say → strength
Mark very much appreciates the continued support.
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Mark → appreciate → support
In order to respect the ongoing court process, he will not be commenting at this time.
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he → respect → time
Carter filed a defence earlier this year denying liability, court records show, although the surgeon admitted that a portion of stomach tissue remained after the operation and a leak started at its staple line.
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leak → file → line
But he argued that this decision was appropriate and leakage was a recognised complication and happened in only about 1 per cent of cases and did not necessarily imply negligence.
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leakage → argue → negligence
He also claims the agreement was sealed through Streamline Surgical, a private weight loss and bariatric medical group, which treats patients at the Spire Portsmouth Hospital, and he did not have a personal contract with Mr Feehily.
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he → claim → Feehily
Carter's legal team said: 'As proceedings remain ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on the matters raised.'
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it → say → matters
Mr Feehily claims his health problems began after he underwent the routine gastric surgery in August 2020.
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he → claim → August
A few days following the procedure, he claims he experienced severe pain and was rushed to hospital, where complications developed into sepsis.
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complications → follow → sepsis
He spent months in the intensive care unit during the Covid-19 pandemic and required emergency surgery to address it.
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He → spend → it
In late 2021, he became seriously ill before a scheduled concert and was diagnosed with pneumonia.
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he → become → pneumonia
The star claims that his health problems stem from a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a type of weight-loss surgery, he received in 2020 at Spire Portsmouth Hospital, pictured
This chest infection forced him to miss shows on Westlife’s Wild Dreams Tour and marked another significant setback in his recovery.
He claims that following his pneumonia, he continued to face complications from his earlier illness and surgeries.
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he → claim → illness
He developed a large incisional hernia — a weakness or tear at the site of his surgical incision — which required further major surgery.
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which → develop → surgery
Reports state he has undergone four major surgeries related to these health battles since 2020.
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he → state → 2020
Mr Feehily stepped down from touring with Westlife in February 2024 following a brief hiatus in late 2022.
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Feehily → step → 2022
Mr Feehily in December 2025 shared an update with his fans following a period of ill health after battling several illnesses over the past few years.
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Feehily → share → years
It read: 'Heya!
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It → read → ?
It's been so long, sorry about the lack of posting…
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It → post → posting
I've missed ya!
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I → miss → ya
It's been quite difficult to watch my band's big World Tour launch knowing I won't be able to be there with you all to join the party.
'
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I → watch → party
However, it's been really amazing to see our band still flying so high, and the incredible global support that's still there for us.
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that → see → us
'That same phenomenal support you have blessed us with from day ONE in Sligo back in the late 90s & as we slowly but surely went on to build the Westlife legacy piece by piece for over 3 decades, literally thousands of days and nights together on stage and in studios and on trains, planes and automobiles, is something that blows my mind to this day, something I am so proud to be a part of.
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I → bless → day
'The 25th anniversary tour is gonna be a really special celebration of what we have all built and achieved together!'
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we → go → what
Mark went on to thank his fans for all of their unwavering support before revealing he still isn't well enough to get on stage for the world tour.
He continued: 'All of this really drives home the honest truth that I'm simply not ready to take on a massive world tour yet.
'
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I → go → tour
My body and my mind need time.
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body → need → time
However, thankfully, sitting in a chair to do a radio show is a completely different physical and mental demand to doing a massive world tour and I feel very lucky to be able to do this new @rteradio1 show.
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I → sit → show
Right now, to sit back and do absolutely nothing would make things much worse for me both medically and emotionally – so here goes!'
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things → sit → me
The star has had brief stints doing broadcast work, hosting Mark Feehily's Musical Icons on RTÉ Radio 1.
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star → have → Radio
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