Thousands Line Swansea Streets for Bonnie Tyler Funeral After Singer Died at 75

Q: What sudden tragedy in Portugal led to the unexpected death of the iconic voice behind Total Eclipse of the Heart?

Bonnie Tyler died after complications from emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal, most widely reported as treatment for a perforated bowel or perforated intestine. According to the additional reporting, she was rushed to hospital in Faro in May for emergency surgery after the intestinal perforation. Doctors then placed her in a medically induced coma to support her recovery, and although she later came out of the coma, she remained very unwell in intensive care. Her family later said she died unexpectedly in hospital in Portugal on 8 July “as a result of the illness that she was being treated for.” While relatives did not publicly specify the exact illness in their final statement, multiple reports linked it to the perforated bowel and the complications that followed surgery.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 17

Thousands of fans gathered in Swansea for Bonnie Tyler’s funeral, watching a celebration of life at Swansea Minster before her cortege traveled to Skewen for a private family burial.
75-year-old Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins, died unexpectedly on July 8; mourners and fans shouted “we love you Bonnie” and “thank you Bonnie” as her coffin entered and left the church.
Roger Bell, who discovered her, called her “one of a kind” and said tributes came from the Prince and Princess of Wales, Parliament, Portugal and fellow musicians, while stressing she remained deeply tied to Swansea.
The service highlighted her roots and career — from a £1 singing-competition prize in Wales to 1980s global fame with Total Eclipse of the Heart, Holding Out for a Hero and other hits.