Editing George Harrison (section)

=== Attack at Friar Park: 1999 ===
{{Main|Stabbing of George Harrison}}
[[File:Lodge at Friar Park - geograph.org.uk - 1588804.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|The entrance and gatehouse at Harrison's [[Friar Park]] estate in [[Henley-on-Thames]]. In December 1999, he and his wife [[Olivia Harrison|Olivia]] were the victims of a knife attack by an intruder.]]

On 30 December 1999, Harrison and his wife Olivia were attacked at their home, [[Friar Park]]. The perpetrator was 34-year-old [[Paranoid schizophrenia|paranoid schizophrenic]] man Michael Abram, who broke in and attacked Harrison with a kitchen knife, puncturing a lung and causing head injuries before he was incapacitated by Harrison's wife, who struck him repeatedly with a [[Fire iron#Types of fire irons|fireplace poker]] and a lamp.<ref name=NYTimes1299 />{{sfn|Idle|2005|pp=277–278}} Harrison later commented, "I felt exhausted and could feel the strength draining from me. I vividly remember a deliberate thrust to my chest. I could hear my lung exhaling and had blood in my mouth. I believed I had been fatally stabbed."<ref>{{cite news |first = Lou |last = Haviland |url = https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-horrifying-night-when-former-beatle-george-harrison-was-stabbed-by-a-crazed-fan.html/ |title = The Horrifying Night When Former Beatle George Harrison Was Stabbed by a Crazed Fan |date = 29 November 2019 |access-date = 29 November 2019 |work = Showbiz Cheat Sheet |archive-date = 28 January 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200128173918/https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-horrifying-night-when-former-beatle-george-harrison-was-stabbed-by-a-crazed-fan.html/ |url-status = live }}</ref> Following the attack, Harrison was hospitalised with more than 40 stab wounds, and part of his punctured lung was removed.{{sfn|Doggett|2009|pp=328–29}} He released a statement soon afterwards regarding his assailant: "He wasn't a burglar, and he certainly wasn't auditioning for the Traveling Wilburys. [[Adi Shankara]], an Indian historical, spiritual and groovy-type person, once said, 'Life is fragile like a raindrop on a lotus leaf.' And you'd better believe it."{{sfn|Greene|2006|p=266}}{{refn|group=nb|Abram, who believed he was [[demonic possession|possessed]] by Harrison and that he was on a mission from God to kill him,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1024930.stm|title=Beatle's attacker says sorry|date=16 November 2000|access-date=31 December 2012|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103063715/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1024930.stm|archive-date=3 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/15/stevenmorris|title=The night George Harrison thought he was dying|last=Morris|first=Steve|newspaper=The Guardian|date=14 November 2000|access-date=31 December 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023073438/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/15/stevenmorris|archive-date=23 October 2013}}</ref> was later acquitted of [[attempted murder]] on [[Insanity defense|grounds of insanity]] and was detained for treatment in a secure mental hospital. He was released in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2096082.stm|title=Freed Beatle's attacker sorry|work=BBC News|access-date=13 December 2008|date=5 July 2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508233534/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2096082.stm|archive-date=8 May 2009}}</ref>}} Upon being released from a psychiatric institution in 2002, Abram said: "If I could turn back the clock, I would give anything not to have done what I did in attacking George Harrison, but looking back on it now, I have come to understand that I was at the time not in control of my actions. I can only hope the Harrison family might somehow find it in their hearts to accept my apologies."<ref>{{Cite web|first=Helen|last=Carter|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/jul/05/hospitals.mentalhealth|title=George Harrison's attacker released from hospital|date=5 July 2002|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=13 August 2021|archive-date=27 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827173654/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/jul/05/hospitals.mentalhealth|url-status=live}}</ref>

The injuries inflicted on Harrison during the home invasion were downplayed by his family in their comments to the press. Having seen Harrison looking so healthy beforehand, those in his social circle believed that the attack brought about a change in him and was the cause for his cancer's return.{{sfn|Doggett|2009|pp=328–29}}