Max George reveals the devastating decision he made before having heart surgery in case he died
Most Wanted star Max George revealed how his fear of death prompted him to write his will on his iPhone, before undergoing life-saving surgery.
The 36-year-old singer was taken to an emergency department in Manchester last month, where he was fitted with a pacemaker.
This came after he woke up feeling very cold and with bright blue hands while staying at his mother’s house on the morning of December 11.
Max was staying with his mum Babs, 63, at her home in Manchester after a month-long US tour with his band.
After alerting his mother – who he credits with saving his life – he was initially sent home by his GP – however, a doctor friend told him to go straight to A&E.
There he was told that he would need to have a pacemaker fitted.
Max said in an interview with the American magazine “Newsweek”: “I could not move my arms, and the worst feeling was that I felt as if my throat was closing.” The sun.
He continued: “I felt like someone put their hands around my neck.”
After doctors measured his pulse, he was placed in a wheelchair and quickly transferred to the cardiology ward, where doctors told him he would need a pacemaker.
After receiving the shocking news, Max broke the news to his girlfriend and former EastEnders star Maisie Smith, 23 – who was in Kent, preparing to go on stage to watch a pantomime version of Beauty and the Beast.
“I was in the right place, and as hard as it was not having her around, and her head was spinning, it was better for her to focus on her work. I had my family there,” Max said.
However, as he lay in hospital preparing for surgery, he feared he might die.
“It was really scary, all the stuff going through your head and definitely not where I thought I would be when I turned 36,” he said.
Then he decided to write his will on his phone.
“The first night I wrote a will, I thought I was going to die,” he said.
“When you’re told you really realize what your responsibilities are. I have a partner, Maisie, I have a family.
“I have two young nephews and all these things come to the forefront of everything. I was in the cardiac ward with about six seniors, and I was at least 30 years younger than them.
Two days after being hospitalized, Max’s heart rate dropped so low that he was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for a CT scan.
At that time, his surgery date was set – December 18, one week after he was first taken to hospital.
The operation – which he described as “very mental” – took three hours – and was complicated by collapsed veins caused by his condition.
Max is now on the mend, and has described his defibrillator as “the best Christmas present”.
After returning home, Max shared an update while lounging on the sofa with Maisie, posting a series of photos from a cozy Christmas together.
“So good to be home ❤️,” he captioned the set of festive snaps.
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