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'Fighting fit' and raring to go: George Michael reschedules cancelled gigs after bouncing back from pneumonia battle

By Emily Sheridan

PUBLISHED: 11:26 EST, 20 March 2012 | UPDATED: 12:07 EST, 20 March 2012

Four months after he came close to death while fighting pneumonia, George Michael is preparing to return to the stage.

The singer, 48, says he is now 'fighting fit' and is planning to resume his worldwide Symphonica Tour, which he was forced to cancel last November when he became dangerously ill.

At one point Michael was in a coma after falling ill with the lung condition just hours before he was due to perform in Vienna, Austria.

The former Wham! star will return to Vienna to resume the tour in September and has donated 1,000 tickets to staff of the hospital where he was treated.

A statement released on his behalf read: 'George Michael is back in good health and fighting fit after a battle with pneumonia.'

And Michael was quoted as saying: 'I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you first to the doctors and nurses who saved my life and took such great care of me and to all my fans, family and friends for their love and support.

'I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.'

Following his released from hospital in December and return to London, Michael described the time as 'the worst month of my life'.

He said: '‘I feel amazing, I mean I am very weak but I feel amazing.

'I got streptococcus something. It’s a form of pneumonia and they spent three weeks keeping me alive basically.

'It was by far the worst month of my life, but I am incredibly fortunate to be here and incredibly fortunate to have picked up this bug where I did.'

Michael's hospitalisation in November was the second time he has been ill on his tour, which started in Prague, Czech Republic in August.

Last October, he cancelled one of his three sell-out gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall due to illness.

At the time, his spokesperson said he was suffering from a viral infection and had a high temperature.

The singer's tour sees him performing with a 41-piece orchestra and in front of a giant red LED wall.

Critics hailed Michael's concerts as a huge success with the Daily Mail's Adrian Thrills writing: 'A stunning finale from a performer who suddenly looks back to his best.'

hmmm, that is pretty cool he donated all those tickets

Is he coming to the states?

So about those American dates...

Gunsnhalen said:

hmmm, that is pretty cool he donated all those tickets

Is he coming to the states?

He will play an additional Vienna concert for that reason

ABeautifulOne said:

So about those American dates...

Yeah wanna know 2.