Bonnie Tyler dies, after long illness, in Faro Hospital

News came this morning that legendary singer, Bonnie Tyler, 75, died in Faro hospital last night, where she had been since life-saving surgery for a ruptured appendix over two months ago.

The message on the singer’s official Facebook page said: “Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for. We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy.”

Fans of the star – known all over the world for hits like “Total Eclipse of the Heart”, “Holding out for a Hero” and “It’s a Heartache” – will be in deep mourning after so many weeks of, quite literally, holding out for a miracle.

Bonnie’s health took a serious turn for the worse when doctors tried to take her off the ventilator she was on, following the emergency surgery in early May.

Some time later came information that she was finally off the ventilator and battling for recovery. But since then, there had been precious little, suggesting the struggle was complicated.

Bonnie’s love for Portugal goes back decades. She lived here with her husband of the last 50 years, Robert Sullivan, who was reportedly by her bedside every day, rooting for that tragically elusive recovery.

Further information is expected eventually, but for now, it is just a very sad start to a day without a much-loved icon of pop from the era of unforgettable songs.

Sources: Expresso/ SIC Notícias/ Bonnie Tyler Facebook page

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.