WELSH pop star Bonnie Tyler has passed away at age 75 in a Portuguese hospital following a long illness.
The singer had been admitted to a hospital in Faro on the Algarve in May for emergency intestinal surgery.
She was placed in an induced coma to aid her recovery after suffering what local media reports suggest was a perforated intestine.
A message published on her official website read: “The family and team of Bonnie deeply regret to announce that Bonnie passed away unexpectedly last night in a hospital in Portugal as a consequence of the illness she was being treated for.”
The working-class star, who received an MBE from Prince William in 2023, spent her final decades living between the UK and her villa in Albufeira.
Tyler first fell in love with the southern Portuguese coast in 1978 while recording her third album ‘Diamond Cut’ in Vale do Lobo.
She and her husband Robert Sullivan subsequently bought a home in the region where they spent a large portion of the year enjoying the climate and local beaches.
Her recent health issues began in May after a UK concert, when she travelled to the Algarve and began suffering severe abdominal pain.
Although her team announced she had woken from her coma in June, her condition remained very serious and forced the cancellation of her upcoming European summer tour.
The singer was best known for her iconic 1980s power ballads ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ and ‘Holding Out for a Hero’.
Tyler also made history as the first Welsh person to reach number one on the US charts.
Her trademark husky voice was actually the result of permanent vocal cord damage sustained in 1977.
Tyler screamed in frustration during a mandated six-week vocal rest after having nodules removed, permanently altering her tone to what producers dubbed a female version of Rod Stewart.
Famous artists including Tony Hadley and Russell T Davies were among some of the stars speaking out on the passing of the trailblazing vocalist.
But it was Sir Rod Stewart who led the tributes for the Welsh star, noting their shared vocal styles and describing her as a ‘true soul stirrer’.
He said: “She was a good pal. I sing It’s A Heartache every night on tour. I’ll miss you darling Bonnie.”
Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley recalled how welcoming Tyler had been to him when he was an emerging artist.
He said: “Her voice was truly amazing and standing next to her you really got to feel her power. A beautiful legend.”
READ MORE: Legendary singing star Sir Tom Jones to perform in Valencia this Summer
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies praised her resilience and the enduring power of her signature ‘Skewen rasp’.
He said: “I think it’s quite a Welsh thing to lose your accent when you leave home. But not Bonnie! What a gorgeous girl. Night, cariad. Thank you for the music.”
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams thanked the singer for her rendition of his song Straight From The Heart.
He said: “She had such a great voice and I’ll always be grateful. Thanks Bonnie.”
Click here to read more Spain News from The Olive Press.
