Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Sir Brian May, 78, has given a stark and candid update on a series of harrowing health crises that brought him, in his own words, “very near death,” culminating in a “wake-up call” minor stroke last year.
In a deeply personal revelation, May described the moment last year when he suddenly lost control of the left side of his body. “My left arm just went kind of dead, and I thought, ‘This is it. This is the one that’s going to take me,'” he recalled. The incident prompted a high-speed, **blue-lights-flashing dash to the hospital** where he was treated for a **minor ischemic stroke.**
Miraculously, he has since made a **full recovery**, with no lasting damage, calling the episode a profound “wake-up call” about his mortality and the fragility of life.
However, May revealed this stroke was not his first brush with the edge. He recounted an even more terrifying ordeal from years prior: a **catastrophic “stomach explosion.”**
While he has spared the public the most graphic details, the event involved a **ruptured artery in his stomach,** causing massive internal bleeding. “I was very near death,” May stated bluntly. The emergency was so severe and sudden that it required immediate, life-saving surgery. He credits the swift work of medical professionals with pulling him back from the brink.
The combination of these traumatic events has fundamentally changed the rock legend’s perspective. “It makes you realize you’re not here forever,” he reflected. “You think you’re indestructible when you’re young, playing those big stages. But these things… they really bring it home.”
Despite the scares, May’s spirit remains indomitable. He is currently **healthy, active, and passionately dedicated to his wildlife sanctuary work**, which he has called more rewarding than his Queen legacy. He continues to make music and engage in astrophysics, but with a renewed emphasis on balance and gratitude.
His message is one of caution and appreciation. “Don’t take your health for granted,” he advises. “Listen to your body. And when you get a warning, like I did, take it seriously. I was lucky. I got a second chance—really, a third or fourth chance—and I don’t intend to waste it.”
Brian May’s story is a powerful reminder that even the giants of rock and roll are human, vulnerable to the same frailties as anyone else, and that sometimes, the greatest solos are the quiet, grateful ones played in the key of survival.
