Pray for his Lutheran soul

BREAKING NEWS: Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones guitarist, is facing an operation after suffering a brain hemorrhage in a fall, it was reported last night.

The 62-year-old musician has been told by doctors he needs to have blood drained from his skull after banging his head last week.

Richards was originally diagnosed with mild concussion after the accident at the Wakaya Club resort in Fiji.

But after he continued suffering dull headaches, doctors carried out further tests and it was revealed there was a small haemorrhage. It is understood that Richards has been told he will make a full recovery once the blood has been removed.

Mystery still surrounds exactly how Richards hurt his head. A spokeswoman has said only that he suffered a concussion. But it was widely reported that he fell out of a tree while climbing for coconuts with bandmate Ronnie Wood at the island resort.

Richards was treated in a Fiji hospital before being flown 1,500 miles to Ascot Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, with his wife Patti for tests.

The Stones are due to start the European leg of their A Bigger Bang world tour in Barcelona on May 27.

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I Can Sleep Peacefully Tonight

I love Keef madly, so show some respect and pray for his speedy recovery ...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Keith Richards has been released from a New Zealand hospital where the Rolling Stones guitarist was admitted with a head injury after he reportedly fell out of a palm tree.

Richards, 62, suffered a mild concussion while on vacation in Fiji Thursday. Several Australian and New Zealand media outlets reported the fall from the tree.

New Zealand's Sunday Star-Times also reported that Richards got on a Jet Ski after the fall and had another accident.

Richards was treated in a Fiji hospital before being airlifted to Auckland's Ascot Hospital for observation. It was not immediately clear exactly when he was released or where he went afterward.

"I can categorically confirm Mr. Richards ... is no longer a patient in this hospital," hospital duty manager Geoff Sparks told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "He has been discharged."

Band spokeswoman Fran Curtis has said only that Richards was injured earlier this week and flown to New Zealand with his wife, Patti, for observation. Her statement Saturday did not comment on Richards' condition or how he was injured.

Richards and his wife were staying at the exclusive Wakaya Club resort on a small Fijian island when he was injured.

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