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British singer and songwriter Elton John apologized in tears to his fans when he was forced to interrupt a concert in New Zealand this Sunday due to "wandering pneumonia."

The 72-year-old artist worked hard to sing during a performance at Mount Smart Stadium. After being sponsored by a doctor, the singer continued trying two other songs but ended up interrupting the performance, just in the middle of the repertoire.

"I can't sing. I've lost my voice completely," he said hoarsely before the concert goers, which is part of a world tour. "I have to go. I'm so sorry."

Health authorities around the world are on high alert for the new coronavirus, which has infected more than 70,000 people and killed 1,770 in mainland China. At the moment New Zealand has not reported cases of this epidemic.

In the video images Elton John is seen, dressed in a light blue suit and oversized glasses, in front of a grand piano. He shrugs, in a gesture of helplessness.

He then leaves the stage, head down, with the help of his team , amid the applause of the spectators.

"Today I was diagnosed with wandering pneumonia, but I set out to offer them the best humanly possible show," he tweeted later.

"I played and sang with all my heart, until my voice could no longer. I am disappointed, deeply upset and sorry. Say everything I had inside."

Wandering or walking pneumonia is an informal term for atypical pneumonia, which causes mild infections of the respiratory system, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Symptoms include tiredness, sore throat, fever and cough, and sometimes the disease can degenerate into more severe pneumonia, a lung infection.

Elton John is in New Zealand as part of the "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" world tour, which began in 2018 and should end in late 2020 in London. It is considered the last chance to see the star on stage before he retires.

From New Zealand, Elton John flew to Los Angeles to sing at the Academy Awards.

In the Oscar, he took home the award for best original song for his biographical film Rocketman .

Elton John has performances scheduled in Auckland on Tuesday and Thursday before leaving for Australia for another seven concerts.

The promoter of the stages of the tour in Australia and New Zealand, Chugg Entertainment, said that the artist is resting and that the performances will continue.

"The doctors are confident that it will improve," a spokeswoman said. "In this phase, all the remaining shows will continue as planned."

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • New Zealand
  • Australia
  • Infectious diseases
  • music
  • Concerts

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