Shane MacGowan's wife Victoria Mary Clarke has asked for “love and prayers” after sharing a concerning update about The Pogues frontman.
MacGowan has been in intensive care for several months after first being diagnosed with viral encephalitis last year, which is said to have been exacerbated by shingles that spread to his eye.
Encephalitis is a serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed. It can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital.
He returned to hospital in June. Although his partner did not go into detail about his diagnosis at the time, Clarke did tell fans at the time that MacGown was starting to feel better and had been transferred to a hospital ward.However on Tuesday, the Fairytale of New York singer’s other half took to social media to share a photo of the 65-year-old using breathing apparatus in hospital.
The Irish journalist updated fans on his health and thanked people, including his bandmates Spider Stacy and Terry Woods, who had offered support amid his illness.
I just wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone who has been messaging me and @ShaneMacGowan and thank you 🙏 @spiderstacy and Terry Woods for coming to visit him ❤️love and prayers for everyone who is struggling right now ❤️hang in there! pic.twitter.com/9OrUdgPxEd
— @victoriamary (@Victoriamary) November 14, 2023
The 57-year-old shared on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I just wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone who has been messaging me and Shane MacGowan and thank you Spider Stacy and Terry Woods for coming to visit him.
“Love and prayers for everyone who is struggling right now. Hang in there!”
MacGowan, who has used a wheelchair since he broke his pelvis in 2015, has been in and out of hospital in recent years.
In 2021, the Irish star suffered a fall, breaking his right knee and tearing ligaments in his other. He never fully recovered following the incident.
He has also been open about his battle with addiction, and in 2015 had a full set of teeth implants installed after decades of abusing alcohol and drugs destroyed his real ones.
MacGowan and Clarke have been together for more than 35 years.
They tied the knot in Denmark in November 2018. The intimate ceremony was attended by their close friend Johnny Depp, who also performed.
