Sir Rod Stewart had to pause a concert to use an oxygen tank after admitting he nearly fainted onstage.

The 81-year-old Maggie May singer appeared to be doubled over in discomfort and holding on to stage props for support during the gig at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre in the US on Friday night.

But ever the professional, Rod carried on singing before a team of backstage assistants took him to the side of the stage where he was seen taking several puffs on an oxygen tank.

Reappearing a few minutes later, he told the crowd he had “nearly f***ing fainted” but vowed “the show must go on”. After making a few jokes, he asked the audience if they would mind if he performed his next hit sitting on steps on the stage, before finishing the show in a chair. The Mirror has reached out to Rod’s reps for comment on this story.

Rod, 81, has cancelled several gigs recently due to health reasons(Image: Getty Images)

The rocker, who still regularly goes on tour and is in his eighties, has cancelled several gigs recently due to health reasons. He cancelled his May 29 and 30 The Encore Shows residency gigs at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas at the last minute after a vocal rest order from doctors.

The Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? singer said at the time: “My apologies to my family of fans. I am on vocal rest as I recover from a sinus infection. I look forward to seeing you at a future show at Caesars Palace or on tour this summer.”

And on 12 June, he cancelled his show in California just hours before it was due to start after contracting laryngitis.

A statement on his Instagram Story read: “Rod Stewart very regretfully has had to cancel his show tonight in Chula Vista, California.

“He travelled to the venue and made every effort to perform, but on the advice of his doctor, and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection, that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take the stage this evening.”

His latest health woes, where he had to receive oxygen backstage, was captured on camera in video footage shared with TMZ.

However, Rod faced a backlash when he posted a video of himself and sons Liam, 31, and Alistair, 20, flying to Boston in a private jet to watch his beloved Scotland football team take on Haiti in the World Cup.

He said in the video: “Here we are flying off to Boston to see Scotland in the World Cup. It’s been 28 years so these kids, I’ve told them about it, but they’ve never been. I’ve been to seven World Cups.”

But in the comments section people were quick to slam Rod for making the trip despite his illness and previous show cancellation.

One wrote: “This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night. Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?”

Another said: “So you blew off all the people in San Diego that wanted to see you in concert but able to go to the world cup I see! I’m a huge fan of yours but I don’t think that’s cool.”

While a third commented: “I understand that shows sometimes have to be cancelled, and if there was a legitimate reason, most fans would have accepted it.

“What’s hard to accept is seeing you apparently celebrating on a plane with friends less than 24 hours after thousands of people were sent home disappointed in San Diego.

“Many travelled long distances, paid for hotels, parking, tickets, and took time off work to be there. Then to see you flying across the country for a soccer game the very next morning makes the situation feel even more tone deaf.”

The social media user ended the post by saying: “The cancellation was frustrating enough, but this comes across as incredibly dismissive of the fans who support your career. A little empathy and awareness would have gone a long way.”