Singer Robin Gibb, musician with the legendary band the Bee Gees, is seriously ill in hospital after contracting pneumonia in his battle against cancer, sources said on Saturday.
Gibb had surgery on his bowel 18 months ago for an unrelated condition but a tumor was found and he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon and the liver.
Back in February, Gibb said he had made a “spectacular” recovery from his treatment, sparking hopes that his cancer was in remission, but he has since experienced a sharp deterioration amid reports of a secondary tumor.
British media reported on Saturday that the 62-year-old is believed to have fallen into a coma at the hospital in Chelsea, west London, where wife Dwina, brother Barry and three children are keeping a bedside vigil.
Sources close to the singer confirmed that he was very ill in hospital, but his agent declined to comment on speculation that Gibb may have just days to live.
Last week, Gibb was too ill to attend the premiere of his first classical work, “The Titanic Requiem”, which he composed with his son RJ Gibb to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner in 1912.
Gibb had also been due to perform a new song, “Don’t Cry Alone”, at the concert last Tuesday.
The Bee Gee underwent surgery for an ongoing problem with a twisted intestine in 2010.
The same hereditary condition led to the death of his twin brother Maurice at the age of 53 in 2003, while younger brother Andy died in 1988 following a battle against cocaine addiction.
Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb scaled the heights of the pop world in the 1970s with disco hits including “How Deep Is Your Love”, “Stayin’ Alive”, and “Night Fever”.
The band notched up record sales of more than 200 million during a career which has spanned seven decades.
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