Former Bee Gee Robin Gibb has been battling serious health problems for months. British media reported that Gibb is in the hospital with pneumonia on Saturday, and now there are reports that the 62-year-old is in a coma, fighting for his life.
“Our prayers are with Robin. He has kept so positive and always believed he could beat this,” said one family friend, according to The Sun . “Sadly, it looks like he has developed pneumonia, which is very bad in his situation,” but adding, “If there is anyone you would put money on pulling through such a dire situation, it would be Robin because he is a fighter. But this is a battle he will struggle to win.”
Confirmation of Gibb’s condition has been difficult, with with his wife Dwina and brother Barry at his bedside, his publicist Dough Wright declining comment, and only Gibb’s son confirming that the musician is gravely ill. Gibb was hospitalized last year for stomach and colon problems and underwent intestinal surgery just last month. Though thought to be colon cancer, Gibb did not confirm the nature of his intestinal surgery, merely saying that a growth was removed.
Of his own struggles with his health lately, Gibb told The Sun last month that, “I sometimes wonder if all the tragedies my family has suffered — like Andy and Maurice dying so young and everything that’s happened to me recently — is a kind of karmic price we are paying for all the fame and fortune we’ve had.”
He is referring to the deaths of Bee Gee’s members Maurice and Andy Gibb. Maurice was Robin’s twin brother, and died in 2003 at the age of 53 due to complications from a twisted intestine. Andy had a successful solo career after the Bee Gee’s, but died in 1988 at 30 of heart problems.
The Bee Gees are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and have won seven Grammy Awards.
All of our prayers are with Robin Gibb and his family. IQ wishes him a speedy recovery.