Def Leppard's Joe Elliot Faces Health Scare; Hospitalized Ahead of Columbia Show

Joe Elliot faced a health scare ahead of Def Leppard's show in Columbia, but it did not stop him from performing with the band.

Elliot and Def Leppard hyped the crowd in Bogota, Columbia, as they held their scheduled show on Feb. 25. The band jetted into the country for the next show on their co-headlining world tour alongside Motley Crue.

They performed a full set, but it was reportedly shortened by two songs after the frontman's unexpected hospitalization.

Before their appearance, Def Leppard's frontman was diagnosed with "moderate to severe altitude sickness" in a Bogota hospital after he was rushed to the facility due to shortness of breath, according to Louder Sound. He reportedly started feeling woozy upon their arrival.

Two hours before the performance, Elliot posted a video on the band's social media account and assured everyone he was alive and well.

"'Moderate to severe' altitude sickness; I would hate to know what 'severe' [was]. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy," Elliot said. "But here I am... apparently the internet lit up, so I'm here to put everybody that cares about it's minds at rest." He concluded: "I'm here, and we are going on at 8 p.m."

Per Wanderlulu, Bogota is located in the Andes Mountain range. Its location is higher than Denver, Colorado, which only sits around 5,260 feet above sea level. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that Joe Elliot's health condition occurs as "inadequate acclimatization may lead to altitude illness in any traveler going to 8,000 ft (2,500 m) or higher, and sometimes even at lower elevations."

Fortunately, it did not cause any more serious condition.

Joe Elliot Thanks Fans of Def Leppard

After recovering from the condition immediately, Elliot took his time to thank the crowd of their show for their love and support. The singer extended his gratitude and praised the staff of the Marly Hospital who took care of him the night before the performance.

"I made it, you made it, and thanks to them, that's why I'm here. So let's make some noise for all those good folks at the Marly hospital please," he said.

Def Leppard's concert followed the release of the band's 12^th album, "Diamond Star Halos." The album was ranked the best album of 2022 by Classic Rock Magazine in its annual end-of-year writers poll.

Def Leppard and Motley Crue's 2023 tour will continue in more countries, including Brazil, Peru, the UK, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland, among others.

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