They are one of the most successful folk music duos in Germany. Marianne (69) and Michael (74) Hartl have been delighting their fans for decades. Now the singer is in an artificial coma, as reported by “Bild”.
Michael Hartl suffered from shortness of breath in the early hours of Thursday morning, whereupon his wife called the emergency doctor. The singer was immediately transported to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed a stroke.
«Michael is a fighter»
An emergency operation followed, as a result of which the native Austrian was placed in an artificial coma. His condition is currently stable. Hartl is monitored around the clock in the intensive care unit.
His wife Marianne Hartl is certain: “Michael is strong and a fighter, he will make it and get well again.” The folk music star had “completely exhausted himself” in the past few days, as his wife reports. For example, Michael Hartl organized a transport of relief supplies to the Ukraine.
Hartl wanted to drive relief supplies to the Ukrainian border
The truck was to be loaded on Thursday and the journey to the Ukrainian border should start on Friday. The singer wanted to drive himself. “He really wanted to help, now he needs help himself,” says Marianne Hartl.
The singer underwent emergency surgery just a few weeks ago after a fall. She injured her shoulder and doctors say it will take a few months to recover.
Marianne and Michael met in 1973 and have been making music together ever since. The musician couple, who have been married since 1979, have two sons. As a duo, Marianne and Michael Hartl won numerous prizes, presented more than 200 pop and folk music shows and founded their own record company with which they want to give young artists the chance of a career in folk music. (grb)