London ( CNN ) -- Singer Robin Gibb has `` confounded '' his doctors by emerging from a coma just days after they thought he might not survive it , his physician said Sunday . Days ago , Bee Gees star Gibb was in a coma and battling pneumonia , the latest turn in health issues that include a recent battle with colon and liver cancer . Now he is `` fully conscious , lucid and able to speak to his loved ones , '' Dr. Andrew Thillainayagam said in a statement . `` He is breathing on his own , with an oxygen mask . He is on intravenous feeding and antibiotics . He is of course , exhausted , extremely weak and malnourished . Our immediate goals are to ensure that Robin 's swallowing mechanism is safe enough to allow him to eat and drink , and that he recovers enough strength to breathe effectively , without needing high levels of oxygen by mask . '' When that happens , he may be moved out of the intensive care unit at the London Clinic , the doctor said . `` It is testament to Robin 's extraordinary courage , iron will and deep reserves of physical strength that he has overcome quite incredible odds to get where he is now , '' Thillainayagam said . The good news comes just three days after Thillainayagam warned Gibb 's family `` that I feared the worst. , '' he said . `` We felt it was very likely that Robin would succumb to what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles to any form of meaningful recovery . As a team , we were all concerned that we might be approaching the realms of futility . '' `` The road ahead for Robin remains uncertain but it is a privilege to look after such an extraordinary human being , '' Thillainayagam said . Gibb 's wife Dwina and children Robin-John , Spencer , and Melissa have been at his bedside every day , the doctor said . Robin Gibb 's twin brother , Maurice , died in 2003 of a twisted bowel . His brother Andy died at age 30 from a heart infection in 1988 . The Brothers Gibb -- calling themselves the Bee Gees -- soared to renown as one of the most successful British groups after the 1977 film `` Saturday Night Fever '' starring John Travolta was built around the group 's disco songs . Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 , the Bee Gees have sold more than 200 million albums , and their soundtrack album to `` Saturday Night Fever '' was the top-selling album until Michael Jackson 's `` Thriller '' claimed that distinction in the 1980s . While often in the background as brother Barry sang lead vocals , Robin Gibb stepped forward on several top tunes , including `` I Started a Joke '' and `` I 've Got ta Get a Message to You . '' He also recorded several solo albums during his career .
Gibb is fully conscious and lucid , his doctor says . 3 days ago , the doctor told Gibb 's family he feared the worst . The road ahead is uncertain for Gibb , the doctor says . The Bee Gees were one of the most successful British music groups .