Continuing concern over Rolling Stone's brain: Report

May 9, 2006, 23:07 GMT

Wellington - Doctors in New Zealand have continuing concern about the condition of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, who is recovering from brain surgery after reportedly falling out of a coconut tree, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

The New Zealand Herald said it understood that doctors were concerned about brain damage after his second operation since being flown to Auckland from Fiji, where he was holidaying when the accident happened.

His wife, Patti Hansen, is understood to be with Richards, and his daughters, Theodora, 21, and Alexandra, 19, were reported to have visited him Tuesday.

The Herald reported that the 62-year-old rocker had surgery early Monday that required holes to be drilled into his skull for a craniotomy, a serious operation used to remove blood clots that involved removing a portion of the skull.

It quoted a source as saying that Richards had his first operation to stop bleeding in his skull on April 28, soon after arriving in New Zealand, and medical staff feared for his life at the time.

He was discharged from hospital a few days later and sent to a another private medical facility to be monitored but was readmitted to hospital after passing out and complaining of major headaches.

Rolling Stones publicists have confirmed that Richards had surgery on Monday to relieve pressure in his head and said he was 'up and talking with his family' soon after the operation, which was described as 'a complete success.'

A statement from LD Communications of London said that Richards would need a few weeks' recuperation, and the start of the European leg of the Rolling Stones' world tour, scheduled May 27 in Spain, would be delayed until June.

The Herald said that the Mercy Ascot Hospital in Auckland, where Richards was reported to have been taken when he first arrived from Fiji, was still refusing to confirm that he was a patient.