Fans were shocked recently to hear doctors were fighting to save STEVE HOFMEYR’s life. Many recalled that the popular singer had been taken to hospital last year with a potentially life-threatening condition.
This time the problem was deep-vein thrombosis, a fairly common ailment often linked to sitting in aircraft for long periods. But friends and fans believed he was at death’s door - with good reason. People who suffer blood clots after major surgery face a 10 per cent chance of dying if they aren’t treated swiftly.
In the end the prognosis was good. He’d be in hospital for five days at the most as long as there were no complications, experts said. He’d be on medication for some months and would have to wear a pressure stocking but he’d be able to get on with his life.
After his health scare last year many of the busy singer’s friends hoped it would persuade him to slow down a bit. But he didn’t.
Entertainer Amanda Strydom saw him before the latest health scare. “He looked burnt-out and exhausted,” she says. “He spoke of the stress caused by problems in his relationship and with the media and said he didn’t know how long he could carry on.”
Amanda advised him to control his anger because it was affecting his health. “I hope Steve realises now he needs to calm down.”
Gospel star Manuel Escórcio was shocked by the news. “Entertainers are strung out and overworked and we sometimes drink too much,” he says. “It catches up with us when we don’t look after ourselves properly.”
“Steve has been in the public eye longer than most of us,” singer Kurt Darren says. “Maybe the pressure is starting to take its toll. He needs to cut some slack, give himself a break. I hope everyone allows him to do so.”
Singer Louise Carver says Steve is a legend in the music world. “We’d really hate to lose him. Stress is a killer in this industry and you have to look after yourself. Balance between work and downtime is the key.”
Established artists are probably under more strain than most singers, says Kahn Morbee of The Parlotones. “People expect so much of guys like him. You have to be good regardless of what’s happening to you.”
