Max George health struggles explained in full after singer left worried he might die
Max George has made headlines in recent months for bravely speaking about his health struggles after being hospitalised before Christmas.
The 36-year-old is best known as the lead singer of British boy band The Wanted. After all, who hasn't danced to the absolute bop that is 'Glad You Came'?
Life away from the music took a turn in December last year after he was rushed to hospital as he started to feel seriously unwell.
Since then, he has had multiple trips to A&E and as an inpatient after undergoing surgery on his heart.
Advert
Max George hospitalised
George was rushed to hospital on 11 December, 2024 after feeling seriously unwell at his home, waking up freezing cold with blue hands.
Saying that he thought he was 'going to die' at the time, the singer explained that his heart rate dropped as low as 26 BPM, compared to the normal range of 60 to 100 BPM. Tests quickly found out he had 'some issues' with his heart, as he put it in a post to his Instagram feed.
The star, from Swinton near Manchester, revealed he was waiting to find out 'what surgery I will need' after undergoing a series of tests.
"Although this is a huge shock and no doubt a set back, it's something I'll take on with all I've got," he said.
George said he would be spending Christmas in hospital, indicating the issue was serious and not one that would be fixed within a matter of days.
Thanking his girlfriend, actor Maisie Smith, alongside other loved ones who spent their days with him, he said he was 'very lucky' to have caught the issue when he did.
'Urgent' surgery needed
George took to Instagram on 16 December to reveal he needed heart surgery after being diagnosed with 'a 2:1 block in my heart'.
According to the NHS, this is where the heart beats slower or with an abnormal rhythm due to an issue with the electrical pulses.
"Had a little day trip today. Full Cat scan on my heart - not something I'd choose to do again," he said.
"As I mentioned yesterday, I have a 2:1 block in my heart. Unfortunately, my heart rate hasn't picked up at all in almost a week.
"Because of this, we don't have too much time to wait. So it looks like I'm going to be in surgery way quicker than the doctors first thought.
"I may even be home for Christmas. Still a pretty scary time right now and the last few nights have been really rough. But I wanted to say that I'm absolutely humbled by all your messages of support - both people I know and those I don't. It's given me a much-needed boost and my family have been overwhelmed with support, which means more to me than anything."
Pacemaker fitted
Just days before Christmas, George revealed he had had a pacemaker fitted to his heart after posting a picture of his scarred chest following an operation. It allowed him to spend festivities at home.
A pacemaker is a battery-powered device that makes your heart beat regularly when you have issues with it doing this on its own.
The surgery was poignant, with it fitted just below a tattoo reading '04/08/1988'; the birthday of his late bandmate, Tom Parker, who died in 2022 aged just 33 from an inoperable brain tumour.
George hailed the pacemaker as 'the best Christmas present I could've ever wished for'.
New health issue discovered
After being able to celebrate Christmas with his girlfriend and family, George revealed he had another health issue discovered by doctors in January 2025.
Doctors have been trying to figure out the cause of his heart issue; a process that has found enlarged lymph nodes in his lungs.
"The doctors have discovered enlarged lymph nodes on my lungs," George told The Sun, with more surgery planned as a result.
"This could be a sign of what caused my heart problems. I've got to have a lung biopsy in a couple of weeks. It sounds pretty gnarly. It might tell us what the cause was."
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Music, UK News, Max George
Tom Earnshaw