80s icon Hazel O’Connor has been living from hand to mouth for four years after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
Coventry-born star Hazel, 72, is famous for hits including Eighth Day, D-Days and Will You and has a career spanning five decades and 20 albums.
Her work as an actress took off in 1980 when she played the role of Kate in the film Breaking Glass and performed on its soundtrack, which was nominated for an award. BAFTA.
Hazel continued to make music and tour in her later years, but in 2022 her family announced that she had collapsed while alone in her home in the south of France and was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage.
Friends of the star have since had a GoFundMe page to raise money for her ongoing care, as they explained that despite her success, she has no savings “due to an unscrupulous music industry.”
Close friends of Hazel’s Claire Wheeler and Danny Gerrard detailed her struggles on the donation page, which was first set up a year ago.
80s icon Hazel O’Connor lives from hand to mouth for four years after brain haemorrhage, with a fundraising page for the star’s care
Coventry-born star Hazel, 72, is famous for hits including Eighth Day, D-Days and Will You. He has had a career spanning five decades and twenty albums (pictured in 1986)
“Hazel is a real fighter and she has fought for her recovery over the past three years, friends wrote.
“Money has already been raised to help cover medical costs and bills and Hazel is forever grateful.
‘Despite her fame, Hazel lived her whole life from hand to mouth and had no savings. She hasn’t been able to work since the bleeding.’
They explained that “Hazel continues to require caregivers three times a day and the significant monthly bill is a constant concern.”
Following a recent wave of donations, fans and friends have managed to raise almost £25,000 for the star.
The hemorrhage affected the right side of the star’s body and caused movement and speech problems. Further updates to Hazel’s page and social media show that she regularly sings along as part of her speech rehabilitation.
Hazel was found in her southwest home France in January 2022, after experiencing a “serious medical event.”
She was alone at the time of her collapse with just her two dogs and it was some time before she was discovered.
Hazel continued to make music and tour in recent years, but in 2022 her family announced that she had collapsed while alone in her home in France and had been diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage.
At the time, her brother Neil announced she had been admitted to hospital and placed in an induced coma for 24 hours after the brain haemorrhage was diagnosed – saying the situation was ‘touch and go’.
He added in a Facebook post in the weeks after the incident that Hazel had shown great progress and was “responsive to stimuli and to treatment,” but that her recovery “will take a while.”
Hazel’s close friend Toyah Willcox was among those who sent supportive messages, writing on social media: “DEAR HAZEL, YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS, YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS AND WE LOVE YOU, TOYAH XXX.”
Toyah and Hazel were scheduled to tour together six months after the accident.
Hazel now lives full-time in France. She married artist Kurt Bippert in 1987, but divorced in 2000.
She had previously dated Hugh Cornwell and Midge Ure.
The star received her own star on Coventry’s Walk of Fame in 2010 and performed at the city’s City of Culture festival.
In February, an exhibition about the life and career of the singer, songwriter and actress opened in the city.
