News : Earth, Wind & Fire’s John Paris Faces Two Surgeries After Medical Emergency

Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris is facing two surgeries after experiencing a serious medical emergency earlier this month.

The 58-year-old musician was put into an induced coma after suffering the health crisis ahead of the September hitmakers' scheduled performance in San Francisco, California, on 6 August.

A representative for Paris' bandmate Verdine White provided an update on Thursday, telling People that the drummer has regained consciousness but still has a lengthy recovery ahead of him.

"Since our last few updates, there have been both encouraging moments and new challenges," the representative said. "As we've said from the beginning, recovery isn't a straight line, and John's journey continues to remind us of that every day."

The statement added, "Many of you may remember that earlier in John's journey, he briefly awakened before needing to be sedated again. Since then, we've experienced another significant milestone - John woke up again. This time, there was encouraging progress."

Doctors closely observed Paris after he regained consciousness, with his blood pressure staying stable and his breathing remaining strong. Following further examinations, his medical team determined that he would require "two major surgeries" and would continue receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU).

His wife, Kathy Merrick, told People, "This journey is definitely a marathon, but JP is fighting every single day and our hope is strong. John has already overcome obstacles that once seemed impossible, and while there is still a long road ahead, each step forward gives everyone around him renewed hope."

A friend of Merrick has also created a GoFundMe campaign to help the family manage expenses during Paris' recovery. The fundraiser has collected more than $82,000 (£60,000) to date.

Earth, Wind & Fire's scheduled performance with Lionel Richie was cancelled at the last minute following the medical emergency. The band initially did not reveal which member had been affected, with the identity only becoming known about a week later after friends shared an update on Facebook.