2:35pm UK, Sunday September 20, 2009

Leonard Cohen has been released from hospital after collapsing on stage in Spain – just days before his 75th birthday.

Leonard Cohen was performing at a venue in Valencia, Spain.

The Canadian singer-songwriter was diagnosed as suffering from food poisoning, his music company said.

The concert in Valencia was stopped after Cohen – who celebrates his birthday on Monday – fainted at the back of the stage.
Footage posted on video-sharing website YouTube showed band members rushing to help him.

Spanish media reports said the musician was performing Bird On The Wire about 30 minutes into the show when he appeared to lose his balance as he went to pick up a guitar.The Canadian singer-songwriter was diagnosed as suffering from food poisoning, his music company said.

The concert in Valencia was stopped after Cohen – who celebrates his birthday on Monday – fainted at the back of the stage.

Footage posted on video-sharing website YouTube showed band members rushing to help him.

He was saved from falling by backing singers – only to collapse again soon after.

Cohen was treated by a medical team at the venue before being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Band member Javier Mas came out on stage almost an hour later to tell the audience the ageing singer was suffering from a stomach complaint and would not be returning to the stage that night.

He added that Cohen hoped to reschedule the show.

Valencia was the penultimate stop on his nine-concert tour of Spain, which was due to end in Barcelona on Monday.

We would like to wish Leonard all the best from leonardcohen.co.uk!