TERRIFIED pop star Max George has revealed he had to undergo a secret SECOND heart op after his pacemaker wires were inserted too deeply.
The Wanted singer was left in agony for weeks after going under the knife in emergency treatment for his heart condition.
He was also warned by doctors that he might never sing again, as he underwent a lung biopsy days later to investigate his health scare.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, he revealed: "I thought I was on the road to recovery but when I was told I needed a second operation I was nervous, as pulling the pacemaker wires out of the heart wall risks bleeding on the heart.
"I didn't have a choice, though. I had to have it done."
The drama came after Max, 36, was admitted to A&E last December and feared he was going to die in hospital before having the pacemaker fitted.
Max is still hoping to perform with The Wanted 2.0 co-star Siva Kanes-waran later this year, and has a planned The War Of The Worlds — The Spirit Of Man theatre tour with girlfriend Maisie.
But his health has thrown all this into doubt and he is liaising with doctors to see if he can recover.
'Chest was shaking'
In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday at his Manchester home, Max said: "I was trying to get back to good health but was still having a flickering sensation for weeks after I had my pacemaker fitted and it was gradually getting worse and worse.
"When my heart rate went up, it was causing a shock in my heart which was making me jump all the time. My chest was shaking."
After several visits to the hospital, it was only when a representative from Max's pacemaker company Medtronic was visiting the ward by chance, that they were able to get to the bottom of his discomfort.
He was booked in for his second operation straight away, on January 15, but was warned that the rare situation could cause a dangerous bleed on his heart.
He said: "The night before, I was really nervous, I didn't sleep much.
"I was worried it could go wrong again and felt anxious that it could bleed out."
Max was joined at the hospital by his actress girlfriend Maisie Smith, and mum Babs, and was conscious but heavily sedated throughout the two-hour procedure.
He found listening to his favourite band, Oasis, helped him stay calm.
Max said: "They wouldn't let me listen to music the first time, when I had the pacemaker fitted." But he said of tuning in for the second op:
"Slide Away started to play and I tried to take myself into my own world. Obviously an operation is a scary thing, but the music really helped and the nurse was reassuring.
"Afterwards I was just pleased it had gone successfully."
Max previously told The Sun how he thought of his former TWanted bandmate Tom Parker, who died in 2022 age 33 from a brain tumour, during his medical treatment.
And the surgeon managed to pro-tect the chest tattoo he has in memory of Tom, showing his late pal's birth date.
But just two days after the op, Max was back in hospital to have his lungs biopsied after doctors found enlarged lymph nodes, risking dam-aging his vocal cords for good.
He said: "The doctor did warn me there is a small chance that I could lose my voice. That was pretty worrying, but I decided I needed to take the risk. The biopsy was pretty gnarly, it's a camera with prongs on the end that goes down your throat. It was painful. The recovery was tough, I had chest pain and was coughing up blood for five days."
Fortunately Max has been given the all-clear and is now focusing on getting fit again.
He said: "The worst part for me is seeing my parents go through this. My mum has found it traumatic. I've tried to hold back from being upset in front of them. I feel helpless and responsible."
But his TV star girlfriend, who was in panto 250 miles away in Kent for his first health ordeal in December, has been putting a smile on his face.
Max met Maisie — who played Tiffany in EastEnders — when they took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2020.
They have since moved in together and share a house in Manchester with their pet bulldog Albert — who Max said he "really missed" while in hospital.
Been a great nurse
He said: "It's been lovely to have Maisie here with me at home. She got me an Apple watch for Christ-mas so I can monitor my heart rate. She's been a great nurse and is very affectionate.
"Recovery has been a slow process, I'm trying to increase my walking every day — taking my dog Albert out and doing an hour on the treadmill daily.
"I was really fit before this all happened and now I'm the least fit I've ever been."
Max has been sober for almost five years but has nevertheless considered going for a pint with his dad Mark at the pub because he feels "life is too short".
He said: "It plays on my mind, why this happened to me.
"I had a full heart scan a year before for a TV show I was doing and it was fine — so it doesn't make sense.
The worst part for me is seeing my parents go through this. My mum has found it traumatic. I've tried to hold back from being upset in front of them. I feel helpless and responsible
Max George
"I don't drink alcohol and I don't smoke, so it's mind-boggling.
"It's been four and a half years since I last drank alcohol — it was life changing for me, it just suited me better.
"Don't get me wrong, sometimes when I'm down the pub watching football I am absolutely gasping for a pint, but I think it's become a way of life now.
"Since this happened, though, I have thought, 'As long as I am balanced there is nothing wrong with me having a couple of pints of Guinness now and again.
"I have said to my dad that when I'm better we should go to the pub — I think I've earned it."
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