Sir Elton John attends the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 05, 2020. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Sir Elton John has made a huge donation to a relief fund after much of Australia was ravaged by wildfires.
At least 24 people have been killed and thousands more displaced from their homes across Victoria and New South Wales, as massive fires rage across the country.
Sir Elton, who is currently touring Australia, revealed to fans during a concert in Sydney on Tuesday that he had made a donation to the Bushfire Relief Fund in response to the fires.
Sir Elton John surprises fans with huge donation at Sydney show.
Speaking during the show, he said: “It’s an apocalyptic, absolute disaster, and you should all be in awe of the work that the firefighters are doing.
Seeing the fires raging across Australia have left me heartbroken. This tragedy has taken lives, homes and devastated so much wildlife. At my Sydney show last night, I pledged $1 million dollars to support the Bushfire Relief Fund.
God bless, Australia. 🇦🇺❤️
Elton xx pic.twitter.com/8umFtjikSa
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) January 7, 2020
“There are people who have lost their lives trying to save homes. People have lost their lives and their homes. Lastly, there’s the plight of the animals, and a loss of habitat on a Biblical scale that’s heartbreaking.
“Tonight, I will be pledging $1 million to support the Bushfire Relief Fund. This is a magnificent country that I’ve been coming to since 1971.
“I love it here so much, and to see what is happening here breaks my heart.”
Australia bushfires ‘left me heartbroken’, singer says.
Sir Elton added: “We have to come together and we have to fight, and this is my bit towards it. I love Australia so much.
“To those who have lost their homes, God bless, I hope that your lives will be repaired very soon.”
On social media, he continued: “Seeing the fires raging across Australia have left me heartbroken. This tragedy has taken lives, homes and devastated so much wildlife.
“At my Sydney show last night, I pledged $1 million dollars to support the Bushfire Relief Fund. God bless, Australia. 🇦🇺❤️”
The veteran singer and philanthropist – who had already received a knighthood for “services to music and charitable services” in 1998 – was recently named a Companion of Honour, one of Britain’s highest civilian honours.
He said: “I’m humbled and honoured to be among such highly esteemed company in receiving the Companion of Honour. 2019 has turned out to be a truly wonderful year for me and I feel extraordinarily blessed.”