Westlife's Mark Feehily returns to the stage for the first time since being forced to take a break from performing after health battles and suing surgeon over weight-loss op

Westlife's Mark Feehily has returned to the stage for the first time since being forced to take a break from performing.

The singer, 46, revealed that he was taking a break from the band two years ago after falling ill with sepsis in 2020, which then led to him having several surgeries.

But he has now finally returned to the stage, as he made a surprise appearance at a wedding on Saturday night. 

A friend of the bride and groom had arranged his special performance after winning a charity auction last year.  

In a TikTok uploaded online, Mark was seen delivering a rendition of the Westlife classic Flying Without Wings for the couple as they took over the Lough Eske ballroom floor.

Delighted Westlife fans took to the comments, gushing over Mark's return to the stage.

They penned: 'Mark your voice is so beautiful come back to westlife soon,'

'The way I’d be ignoring my husband to just watch mark,'

'This man is a legend, getting back on track,'

 'You lucky ducks! I would DIE! amazing congratulations,'

'Hope to see mark on nxt westlife tour flying without wings is incomplete without mark powerful vocal.'

His return to the stage has sparked speculation that he may appear at one of the tour dates now he’s well again.

The Daily Mail has contacted Westlife's representatives for comment. 

Last month it was reported that Mark is suing a surgeon over weight-loss surgery in a private hospital he says caused recurring sepsis.

After he stopped touring, he spent months in an intensive care unit during the Covid-19 pandemic, before suffering from pneumonia, a chest infection and developing a large incisional hernia.

He claims in his court documents that the problems all stem from a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a type of weight-loss surgery, he received in 2020 at Spire Portsmouth Hospital in Hampshire, The Times reports.

The musician alleges that Nick Carter, a bariatric surgeon, left behind a portion of tissue that became infected because he had failed to remove enough of his stomach during the procedure.

This caused a dangerous leak which left him with recurrent sepsis and severe abdominal infections, Mark says in the documents – and meant he had to have his entire stomach removed in an operation in May 2023. Carter denies claims of negligence.

The claim was lodged with the High Court in 2025 and is valued at over £200,000 but Mark's legal team, Leigh Day Solicitors, have outlined a baseline threshold meaning the case can go to the highest court level and a larger sum can be claimed should they win.

A preliminary split trial is expected to take place at the court between May 28 and July 31, although if Mark is successful no damages will be decided during this period.

The court will decide if Nick was negligent and whether Mark's severe complications were a result of the surgeon's actions.

Westlife's tour kicked off last month in Aberdeen and will go on to perform in cities such as Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, London, Manchester and Dublin. 

Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Kian Egan will travel to Netherlands, France, Belgium, Finland, Norway and New Zealand as part of the tour too.

In June, Mark's absence from the coming shows was announced.

In a lengthy post, Westlife wrote: 'To our amazing fans, We would like to take this opportunity to share some very important news with you all.

'We are thrilled to announce the launch of our 25th Anniversary celebrations... On the 9th February 2001 we kicked off our first ever tour at the Newcastle Arena. Who would have thought we would still be here 25 years later?

'We have so many exciting plans to share with you very soon which will include new music, an album, special shows and many, many more surprises along the way.

'Sadly, Mark will be unable to join the celebrations. We hope he can join us back on stage when he is ready and able. He sends his love and positivity to you all as always

'The four of us can't quite believe it's been 25 years. We could only have dreamt of the continued love and loyalty you have consistently shown us around the world.

'We are so lucky to have all of you with us and we can't wait to celebrate together! Happy 25th To Us All! Love, Kian, Mark, Nicky & Shane x.'

In 2024, Mark announced his temporary departure from the Irish boyband, just days before they were set to embark on their first ever tour of America.

Prolonged ill-health resulted in the singer withdrawing from the band in a bid to recover after being diagnosed with sepsis.

Taking to Instagram at the time, he wrote: 'Hello and much love to you all! It's Mark here.. Most of you are aware that I have had some health challenges over the past while.

'It actually all started 3.5 years ago in August 2020 when I had surgery. Within a few days of this surgery I was in severe pain and was rushed into A&E.

'I eventually ended that awful day in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where I was informed that due to a complication with the surgery, I had developed severe 'Sepsis', a life-threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life.'

He added: 'I spent the next few months in hospital. It was during lockdown. For months, due to strict Covid restrictions, I was not allowed any visitors including my fiance and my then 10-month-old daughter.

'It was physically and mentally a very difficult time, not to mention traumatic having to spend so long in ICU.

'In late 2021, I became very ill in Newcastle before a concert and ended up back in A&E, this time being told I had pneumonia. I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December.

'I was referred to a consultant who told me I needed more surgery which I went ahead with in May 2022 meaning I was forced to miss more of The Wild Dreams tour.'

Westlife formed in 1998 with members Shane, Mark, Kian, Nicky and Brian McFadden.

Brian left the group in 2004.

The band went their separate ways in 2012 but got back together in 2018.