Local Canto-pop singer Shirley Kwan Suk-yee, is in the intensive care unit (ICU) after suffering a critical heart emergency, according to reports.
The news was first broken by East Week, the sister publication of The Standard, which reported that the 59-year-old singer was admitted to the ICU in a critical condition on October 7.
Her father and son were photographed outside the hospital, visibly distressed, with her son seen weeping on a bench.
The news has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with former collaborators—including singers Karen Tong Po-yu, Vivian Lai Shui-yan, the band Grasshopper, and Hins Cheung—expressing surprise and concern, noting they had lost touch with her in recent years.
Meanwhile, Kwan’s old flame, Michael Chow Man-Kin, also mentioned it had been over 30 years since they last met, making it difficult to get updates of her condition.
While Kwan’s condition remains guarded, reports indicate that she has yet to regain consciousness after experiencing serious heart issues and undergoing major surgery.
It is suggested that Kwan was found unconscious at home, prompting her family to call for an ambulance.
Upon hearing of her condition, her son immediately rushed back to Hong Kong to support her.
The family has been maintaining a low profile since the incident, with Kwan’s father reportedly advising friends and former colleagues not to visit the hospital, urging them instead to send positive thoughts.
Notably, this hospitalization comes just two weeks after Kwan was seen in good spirits during a dinner with former colleagues from Polygram Records.
Details on Discovery Bay accident
The news has prompted fans to revisit the 2016 incident in which Kwan fell into the water at Discovery Bay—a situation widely reported as a suicide attempt following a breakup.
However, Kwan herself denied the claim, stating she had simply slipped while walking instead of having a mental issue.
A fan recently took to Threads to provide further context, linking the 2016 incident to the passing of Kwan's mother in 2015.
"Her mother was her pillar of support," the poster noted, explaining that Kwan might have been affected by her mother’s passing.
"Shirley is a person who values family deeply. While she may be rebellious in character, she is kind-hearted," the poster urged the public to send support for her health.
Outpouring of online support
The post has garnered supportive messages, recalling warm personal encounters that contradict Kwan's sometimes-misunderstood public persona.
"She's really down-to-earth," one shared, recalling a friendly chat about the products with Kwan in a cosmetics store.
Another wrote, "The entertainment industry doesn't deserve Shirley Kwan, I just hope she is healthy and safe."
Kwan's last public appearance was in 2022, when she unexpectedly showed her support at a concert for four new-generation singers–Kendy Suen, Manson Cheung Chun-kiu, Zeno Koo Ting-hin and Jaime Cheung– offering them encouragement backstage.
