One of Bonnie Tyler's close friends has revealed the legendary singer has been placed in an induced coma after undergoing emergency surgery when her appendix burst. Algarve-based businessman Liberto Mealha has revealed the 74-year-old hitmaker began to feel intense abdominal pain shortly after she landed in Portugal, where she owns a second home. The Welsh beauty returned to the sun-soaked city after a series of tests came back inconclusive during her recent visit to London.

The Total Eclipse of the Heart singer, who is godmother to Mr Mealha's daughter, remained in an induced coma in intensive care at Faro Hospital this morning (May 8). Her spokesman has since confirmed that she was put into a coma "to aid her recovery", with leading Portuguese tabloid Correio da Manha reporting that she is suffering a generalised infection.

This is being treated with high doses of antibiotics after having her appendix removed. Opening up about the musician's ongoing health battle, Mr Mealha told the media: "She started feeling unwell during a concert in London and went to a doctor for tests, but they didn't detect anything there. She decided to travel to the Algarve, where she began to feel severe abdominal pain.

"Two days later, she went to a private hospital, which urgently transferred her to the hospital in Faro because her appendix had burst and she needed emergency surgery." The doting dad later told Correio da Manha Bonnie's husband, Robert Sullivan, is spending his days by her hospital bed and only leaving her side to sleep at home each night.

The entrepreneur, who met the Holding Out for a Hero star when he opened his Albufeira nightclub in the 80s, told the outlet: "He's very grateful to the doctors and nurses at the Faro hospital and believes that if Bonnie had stayed in the United Kingdom, she would no longer be here."

News of Bonnie's health battle first hit the headlines on Wednesday (May 6) after reports emerged that she had been rushed to hospital for emergency bowel surgery. A spokesman confirmed this, telling the press at the time: "We are very sorry to announce that Bonnie has been admitted to hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she has a home, for emergency intestinal surgery.

"The surgery went well, and she is now recuperating. We know that all of her family, friends and fans will be concerned about this news and will be wishing her well for a full and swift recovery."

Since then, her health has worsened, with her spokesman later announcing: "Bonnie has been put into an induced coma by her doctors to aid her recovery. We know that you all wish her well and ask for privacy at this difficult time, please. We will issue a further statement when we are able to."

A ruptured appendix is a severe medical emergency which requires immediate surgical intervention and antibiotics to prevent fatal infections. When an infected appendix ruptures, it creates a hole and causes faecal matter and bacteria to leak into the abdominal cavity.