Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s drummer has explained his collapse on a Toronto stage that cancelled the rest of the band’s tour was far more serious that he’d let on.

“I have finally arrived home after I collapsed and my heart stopped due to a cardiac arrest at the recent OMD Toronto gig,” Malcolm Holmes posted on the band’s website.

“I owe my life to quick-thinking members of our crew and band and the Toronto Fire Dept paramedics who performed CPR and defibrillation to bring me back to life.”

When Holmes collapsed at the Danforth Music Hall on July 19, the band had said he was suffering from heat exhaustion brought on by stage temperatures higher than 45C.

Because Holmes had suffered a major heart attack in 2004, the band “are not prepared to jeopardize Malcolm’s long term health and have decided to stop touring for this year.”

He had rejoined OMD when the British new wave band reformed in 2006.

They announced five days later that Holmes was out of hospital and on his way home to Britain to celebrate his 53rd birthday on July 28.

He said in his statement on Monday, however, “It’s good to be home.”

He thanked the Toronto Fire Department paramedics, the nurses and doctors in intensive care and coronary care at Toronto East General Hospital and doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital.

“It has been a deeply traumatic time not only for me but the band, crew, management, family, friends and loved ones. I have been overwhelmed with the kind messages of love and support from so many people,” Holmes said in his statement.