Elton John continues tour despite pneumonia diagnosis

Sir Elton John will continue his tour of New Zealand and Australia despite being diagnosed with walking pneumonia.

The 72-year-old singer was forced to cut a performance short on Sunday, tearfully telling the audience at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium: "I've got to go. I'm sorry,” before being helped off stage.

Sir Elton confessed: “I've just completely lost my voice. I can't sing.”

But a statement from from Chugg Entertainment confirmed: “At this stage, all remaining shows will go ahead as planned.

“Elton John was disappointed and deeply upset at having to end his Auckland concert early.”

His next performance is scheduled in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday February 22.

The I’m Still Standing star appeared to break down in tears on Sunday, leaning on his piano and shaking his head, before being helped off stage to rapturous applause.

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He revealed on Instagram: “I want to thank everyone who attended the #EltonFarewellTour gig in Auckland tonight. I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier today, but I was determined to give you the best show humanly possible.

“I played and sang my heart out, until my voice could sing no more. I’m disappointed, deeply upset and sorry.

“Thank you so much for your extraordinary support and all the love you showed me during tonight’s performance. I am eternally grateful.”

Walking pneumonia - also known as atypical pneumonia - is a type of lung infection that can be bacterial or viral. Less severe than other types of pneumonia, its symptoms include coughing, chest pain, sore throat and headache, and sufferers often do not require treatment.

Sir Elton was checked over by a medical prefessional during the show, but his voice gave way during the song Daniel.

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The Candle In The Wind singer has been on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour since September 2018. It is due to culminate in three nights at London’s O2 Arena in December 2020.

He has been photographed using a wheelchair backstage and often walking with the support of a stick. He performs the majority of the show sitting down at the piano.

Sir Elton contracted a dangerous bacterial infection in 2017 while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

Speaking about the illness he said: “'I literally had to learn to walk again. I was extremely sick. Luckily I survived it. Now I am fine. But there are very few bits of me left! There is no hair, a pacemaker, there is no tonsils, there is no prostate, there is no appendix.”