Engelbert Humperdinck recently shared memories of his stay at Leicester’s Groby Road Hospital Sanatorium in 1961. The 90-year-old British singer had been diagnosed with tuberculosis and discussed this period on his podcast, “The Engelbert Humperdinck Show.”
Humperdinck recalled the treatment process. “I had to stay on my back for about eight weeks,” he said, unable to sit up or do anything strenuous. He described receiving daily injections that left him with large blue marks. He noted one nurse was particularly rough, causing intense pain during each injection. Despite his complaints, she continued administering the treatment.
The singer eventually plotted a mischievous act with a fellow patient. They tied the nurse’s hands and placed her in an empty bed as a prank. When the doctor made his rounds, he seemed to recognize Humperdinck’s involvement but chose to ignore it. After the incident, Humperdinck was never injected by her again. A male nurse took over, and he found the experience much more bearable.
Humperdinck’s journey to the sanatorium began after he coughed up blood during a Manchester concert. Initially diagnosed with a throat infection, his mother insisted on an X-ray, which confirmed tuberculosis. Within an hour, he was told to prepare for the sanatorium.
He spent six months there. After turning negative for the disease, he learned from his mother that a priest had been giving him last rites because he was so ill. “I had three days,” he noted, reflecting on how close he came to death.
Engelbert Humperdinck, born Arnold George Dorsey, achieved fame with his hit song “Release Me” in 1967. His career boasts over 140 million records sold worldwide, four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Lori A. Bashian contributes as an entertainment news writer for Fox News Digital.
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