Penny Lancaster shares Rod Stewart health update as she addresses on-stage oxygen tank dash: 'Eighty-one, for goodness' sake!'

Penny Lancaster has reassured Sir Rod Stewart's fans after the rock legend sparked concern by requiring oxygen during a recent concert.

The Loose Women panellist insisted the dramatic moment was caused by altitude and a lingering respiratory infection rather than a more serious health issue.

The television personality addressed her husband's condition during an appearance on the Jeremy Vine Show, days after footage emerged showing the 81-year-old using an oxygen tank while performing in Utah.

"I know it sounds very dramatic, and it was a hard watch actually," Ms Lancaster admitted.

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She explained that the Maggie May singer had been recovering from an upper respiratory infection before performing in Salt Lake City, where the high altitude compounded his breathing difficulties.

"He'd been suffering from an upper respiratory infection.

"Then he had a show in Salt Lake City and, similar to Denver, it's 5,000 feet above sea level," she said.

"Your lung capacity, when you've got an upper respiratory infection, is down anyway and at that sort of altitude it's down another 17 per cent."

Ms Lancaster said neither of them had appreciated how significantly the altitude would affect the veteran performer.

"But he wasn't aware of that. He would have prepared differently for the show.

"He went out and, of course, he runs around for two hours, and they do recommend that anyone visiting doesn't exert themselves," she added.

Asked about her husband's age, Ms Lancaster pointed out that even younger performers often require oxygen backstage after performing at altitude.

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"Yeah, 81. Eighty-one, for goodness' sake," she said.

"They naturally have oxygen backstage for this very reason.

"Even the younger groups need to have it if they've had a night out and they're not up to top form.

"So Rod realised, unknown to him, that he had to have extra oxygen."

The presenter then asked whether fans around the world should still be worried.

"They don't have to be worried," Ms Lancaster replied.

"As the professional that Rod is, he carried on regardless and said, 'Just please be patient with me. I might have to sit while I sing this song.'

"So he did the full show and he's recovered very well."

The reassuring update comes after Sir Rod alarmed concertgoers at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre when he appeared to struggle for breath while performing Young Turks.

The singer doubled over on stage before crew members rushed over with an oxygen tank.

After taking several breaths from the mask, he joked with the audience: "The show must go on. I nearly f***ing fainted there.

"Would you mind if I sit down for this one?"

The incident followed a difficult few weeks for the music icon, who had already been forced to cancel and postpone several performances after being diagnosed with influenza, an upper respiratory infection and laryngitis.

Despite the recent health setbacks, Sir Rod has remained committed to his One Last Time farewell tour, which celebrates a career spanning more than six decades.

He is next scheduled to return to the stage in Wantagh, New York, at the end of July.

The couple, who met in 1999 and married in Italy in 2007, have frequently spoken about supporting one another through life's challenges.

Together they share two sons, Alastair and Aiden, while Ms Lancaster is also stepmother to Sir Rod's six children from previous relationships.

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