LONDON — An exhausted George Harrison is to spend "a long while yet" recuperating at the English country home where he was stabbed in a life-and-death struggle with an intruder.
"George is very, very tired and is spending his time resting and recuperating," his spokesman said on Monday. "We do not foresee him leaving home for a long while yet."
The former Beatle was lucky to escape with his life after he and his wife, Olivia, struggled to subdue a knife-wielding intruder.
"What has not really been made clear before now is that they both fought heroically and saved each other's lives," one friend said. "It was a long vicious struggle. It was life or death and they both believed they were going to die."
He also feared he would never be able to play the guitar again after his thumb and fingers were injured. But doctors were able to assure Harrison he would make a full recovery.
A British court on Friday ordered a 33-year-old man to be held in a psychiatric unit after he was charged with the attempted murder of Harrison and his wife.
Magistrates in the southern England city of Oxford said Michael Abram should be detained at a secure psychiatric unit in his home city of Liverpool — also the birthplace of the Beatles.
Father-of-two Abram, who appeared in court with a black eye and bloodstained face, was given bail until Feb. 11 while he undergoes psychiatric treatment.
The attack revived memories of the 1980 killing of ex-Beatle John Lennon by a deranged fan in New York.
Police said the attacker had plunged a 7-inch knife into Harrison's chest just an inch from his heart.
Olivia Harrison's saved her husband's life when she stunned the intruder by hitting him on the head with a lamp after a struggle through three rooms in the couple's mansion.
The Harrisons then overpowered the man and held him until police arrived.
Mexican-born Olivia suffered only superficial injuries and bruises.
Ever since Lennon's death, security has been a constant concern for the three other Beatles — and the arrest of a stalker at Harrison's Hawaii home a week before the British stabbing showed what a global problem it has become.
Police said Cristin Keleher was arrested inside Harrison's Maui estate. The woman, who faces burglary charges, was found by security staff after breaking in.