Da Tang, Gao's manager, told journalists that Gao was in the late stage of Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP) Sunday and his chances of survival were only one in a hundred.

Gao had reportedly suffered difficulty in breathing since Spring Festival. He said he felt uncomfortable at the press conference for his new album on August 31 and visited hospitals twice on September 2 and 4.

On September 6, he was diagnosed with pneumonia at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The hospital warned his family to prepare for the worst on September 13, and the following day, Gao signed a surgery consent form. He lost consciousness during the night of September 15 and since then, has been on an artificial respirator.

The hospital has reportedly accepted ten boxes of the drug compound sulfamethoxazole, donated by Wang Zhiyong, a doctor whose son once had PCP and was successfully treated with the medicine.

The doctor, who works at the General Navy Hospital, said only three types of patients could come down with PCP - those suffering from cancer, liver or lung transplant patients and AIDS sufferers.

Gao Feng

Began to sing on TV in 1991. Some artists used his compositions on their albums the following year. His song Big China became popular after China Central Television (CCTV) used it as the first work in the program Oriental Horizon MTV in 1994. He signed a contract with Star-Maker, released his first album Love on the Other Side of the Sky the same year. He appeared in the CCTV Spring Festival special and released his second album, Harvest, in 1996 and The Best Gift in 1997. He finished his latest album A Beautiful New World in August this year.

(china.org.cn September 20, 2002)