Westlife singer Mark Feehily is taking legal action against a bariatric surgeon over serious health complications he says began after weight-loss surgery in 2020.

Feehily, 46, claims the procedure resulted in recurring sepsis, severe abdominal infections and a series of further operations, eventually leading to the removal of his entire stomach. According to reports, the singer has filed a claim against bariatric surgeon Nick Carter over the treatment he received at Spire Portsmouth Hospital in Hampshire.

The legal dispute centres on a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy Feehily underwent in August 2020. The procedure is a form of weight-loss surgery in which part of the stomach is removed to reduce its size.

Mark Feehily says complications began days after surgery

According to Feehily’s court claim, he developed severe pain only days after the operation and had to be rushed back to hospital. His condition deteriorated and he developed sepsis, requiring emergency surgery.

The singer spent months in intensive care during the Covid-19 pandemic. He has previously spoken publicly about how difficult that period was, including being separated from his family because of strict hospital restrictions. In a 2024 statement, Feehily said his health problems had begun with surgery in August 2020 and that he had been told he had developed severe sepsis following a complication.

Feehily alleges that Carter did not remove enough stomach tissue during the original operation. He claims the remaining tissue later became infected, causing a leak and repeated episodes of sepsis and serious abdominal problems.

Carter denies negligence

His defence accepts that some stomach tissue remained after the operation and that a leak developed along the staple line. However, he argues that leaving the tissue was appropriate and that a leak is a recognised complication of sleeve gastrectomy rather than evidence of negligence.

Carter’s legal team has said such leakage occurs in around 1 percent of cases and does not automatically mean that the surgeon was at fault.

The surgeon also argues that Feehily’s treatment agreement was with Streamline Surgical, a private bariatric and weight-loss medical group that treats patients at Spire Portsmouth Hospital, rather than being a direct personal contract between Carter and Feehily.

Because the case is ongoing, Carter’s legal team has declined to comment further on the allegations.

Further illnesses and surgeries followed

Feehily’s health problems continued well beyond the initial surgery.

In late 2021, he became seriously ill in Newcastle shortly before a scheduled Westlife performance. He was taken to A&E and diagnosed with pneumonia and a chest infection. The illness forced him to miss performances during the group’s Wild Dreams Tour.

He later required another operation in May 2022. Feehily subsequently tried to return to touring, but the physical demands of performing and travelling proved difficult. He developed a large incisional hernia, which required further surgery.

Feehily has said that this was his fourth major operation since his health problems began in 2020. He eventually stepped away from Westlife touring in February 2024 to focus on his recovery.

An incisional hernia occurs when the abdominal wall becomes weakened at the site of a previous surgical incision.

Feehily claims his entire stomach was eventually removed

According to the legal claim, Feehily’s complications eventually led to another major operation in May 2023, during which his entire stomach was removed.

The court will now have to consider whether Carter breached his duty of care and whether any negligence on his part caused the complications Feehily experienced.

The surgeon filed his defence earlier this year and denies liability.

Lawsuit is valued at more than £200,000

Feehily’s claim was filed in the High Court in 2025 and is currently valued at more than £200,000.

His legal team at Leigh Day Solicitors has set out a baseline value that allows the case to proceed in the High Court, while leaving open the possibility of a larger damages claim if he succeeds.

A preliminary split trial is expected to take place between May 28 and July 31. The first stage will focus on whether Carter was negligent and whether his actions caused Feehily’s injuries and subsequent health problems. Any damages would be assessed separately if Feehily succeeds at that stage.

Witness statements are expected to be filed on Monday, followed by expert surgical and radiology reports in November.

Suzanne White, a partner at Leigh Day, said Feehily had continued to keep fans updated about his health despite what she described as an “extremely challenging” period.

“Mark very much appreciates the continued support,” she said. “In order to respect the ongoing court process, he will not be commenting at this time.”

Why Mark Feehily stepped away from Westlife

Feehily’s legal battle follows several years of health problems that have affected his work with Westlife.

He stepped back from touring with the group in February 2024 after years of medical complications. At the time, he explained that his health problems had started with the August 2020 surgery, followed by severe sepsis, a prolonged hospital stay, pneumonia and several further operations.

In December 2025, Feehily opened up again about his decision not to join Westlife on their major world tour. He said it had been difficult watching the band begin the tour without him, while also expressing pride in his bandmates and gratitude towards fans who had supported him throughout his career.

He explained that he was still not physically ready for the demands of a major world tour.

“All of this really drives home the honest truth that I'm simply not ready to take on a massive world tour yet,” he wrote. “My body and my mind need time.”

Feehily also said that continuing to work in a less physically demanding role was important for him. He began hosting Mark Feehily’s Musical Icons on RTÉ Radio 1, giving him a way to remain involved in music and broadcasting while continuing his recovery. RTÉ has since continued to feature the programme.