Westlife singer Mark Feehily is suing a bariatric surgeon over weight-loss surgery he claims led to recurring sepsis and severe abdominal infections.
The 46-year-old alleges that complications followed a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy performed at Spire Portsmouth Hospital in Hampshire in August 2020. He claims a portion of stomach tissue was left behind and became infected, causing a leak.
Mr Feehily says he was rushed to hospital with severe pain days after the procedure and later developed sepsis. He required emergency treatment and spent months in intensive care during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The musician alleges that his health problems continued over the following years, including pneumonia, a chest infection and a large incisional hernia. He says he has undergone at least four major operations since 2020.
High Court claim over sleeve gastrectomy
His claim against surgeon Nick Carter was lodged in the High Court in 2025 and is valued at more than £200,000. His legal team has also set out a threshold that would allow the case to proceed at the highest court level and a larger sum to be sought if he succeeds.
A preliminary split trial is expected to take place between May 28 and July 31. The court will consider whether Mr Carter was negligent and whether the singer’s serious complications resulted from the surgeon’s actions; any damages would be decided later if Mr Feehily wins.
Mr Carter denies liability. In his defence, he accepted that some stomach tissue remained after the operation and that a leak began at the staple line, but argued that the approach was appropriate.
He also said leakage was a recognised complication, occurring in about 1 per cent of cases, and did not necessarily indicate negligence. His legal team further argued that the agreement was made through Streamline Surgical, a private weight-loss and bariatric medical group treating patients at Spire Portsmouth Hospital, rather than through a personal contract with Mr Feehily.
Mr Carter’s lawyers said: “As proceedings remain ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on the matters raised.”
Witness statements are expected to be filed on Monday, followed by expert surgical and radiology reports in November.
Mr Feehily’s health problems affected his work with Westlife. He became seriously ill before a scheduled concert in late 2021 and was diagnosed with pneumonia, forcing him to miss shows on the band’s Wild Dreams Tour.
He stepped down from touring with Westlife in February 2024 after a brief hiatus in late 2022. In an update to fans in December 2025, he said he was not yet well enough to take part in the group’s world tour, although he had begun presenting a radio show.
Suzanne White, a partner at Leigh Day, said Mr Feehily had shown “strength and resilience” during an extremely challenging period and appreciated the continued support of fans.
She added that, to respect the ongoing court proceedings, he would not comment at this time.
