Queen legend Brian May has revealed he suffered a life-changing “minor stroke”.
The 77-year-old musician explained he lost the use of his arm in a social media video in which he announced a significant health update.
He told fans: “I hope you’re all well out there. I’m here to bring you first of all some good news.
“I think the good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days and I say this because it was in some doubt because that little health hiccup that I mentioned happened about a week ago and what they called it was a minor stroke and all of a sudden – out of the blue – I didn’t have any control over this arm so was a little scary.”
On the Instagram post, he continued: “I have to say I had the most fantastic care and attention from Frimley Hospital where I went blue lights flashing… the lot. Very exciting!”
The stroke isn’t the only major health woe May has endured in recent years. He suffered a heart attack in 2020, which left him “very near death”.
Speaking at the time, he told his social media followers he was “generally healthy”.
“Everyone says, ‘You’ve got great blood pressure, great heart rate,’ I keep fit on my bike, good diet, not too much fat,” he shared.
“We’ve all got to really look at ourselves as we get to the autumn years – what seems to be a healthy heart may not be.”
May is renowned for being part of iconic rock band Queen alongside Freddie Mercury, and still enjoys a career both on and off stage.
A current BBC documentary fronted by the rocker sees May on his journey of campaigning against badger culling.
Speaking recently about the programme and some of the backlash it received ahead of its airing, he wrote: “Hardly surprising that the Countryside Alliance want to stop you seeing our documentary – the result of 12 years research into how the disease of bovine TB is actually transmitted.
“The CA’s remit, of course, is to try to ensure that blood sports continue, and they represent hunters and shooters. These are the very people who find employment killing badgers in the Cull Zones, and they get paid a large fee per badger killed.
“It’s easy to see that the CA has a vested interest in making sure the badger culls [continue]. To date, around 230,000 badgers have been slaughtered in the UK. Imagine how much money is being made here. We can see also that they have a vested interest in TB NOT being eradicated.
“So it’s no wonder that these people would prefer that you didn’t see our film. Hopefully, the BBC will stand firm.
“The documentary is scrupulously fair and honest, and it means a lot to me that the plight of the farmers is well and sympathetically represented. Bri.” (sic)
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He still appears to be very much focused on the documentary despite the frightening health update, with the caption for his health announcement video, which was posted early on Wednesday morning, reading: “Well, I WILL leave it there for now.
“There are plenty of bombshells in the documentary and plenty of great new insights which, when the dust settles, will give farmers new ammunition in their personal fight against bovine TB.
“Every criticism that’s been levelled at us is answerable. And to shorten the film from 4 hours to an hour, a lot had to be left out or simplified. For anyone who’s interested to know more or discuss constructively, we WILL be founding ‘Save Me TB Management’ – hopefully running informal workshops to make interested farmers aware of their available options to break out of the interminable misery that current TB policies have brought.
“Anybody who’s happy with the present situation, of course, won’t need to join us !!! Best wishes to all. – Bri #tbFree.” (sic)
