Demi Lovato's dad appeals for contact

Demi Lovato's estranged father has appealed for her to get in touch before he undergoes surgery on a tumour in his throat.

Demi Lovato's father has "begged" her to get in touch.

Patrick Lovato - who has been estranged from the 19-year-old star for over a decade - is awaiting surgery on a tumour in his throat and would love his daughter to get in touch before the operation.

He told RadarOnline.com: "Demi and I haven't spoken in so long and all I want her to do is call her daddy.

"I'm begging her the only way I know how. I want to talk with her so badly.

"Demi, please call your daddy!"

Patrick - who split from Demi's mother Dianna in 1994 - longs to repair his fractured relationship with the singer-and-actress.

He added: "We were so close when she was little. My little daughter was my partner, I just love her so much.

"I want Demi to know that I would do anything in the world for my little girl, I just want to hear her voice."

In 2010, Demi checked into rehab for treatment for an eating disorder and self-harm.

At the time, Patrick spoke out about his worries over the pressure on his daughter as a child star, and was later slammed by the former Disney actress' representatives.

Her lawyer Jamie Young said: "No one speaks for Demi except for her designated representatives.

"Unfortunately, several people have taken it upon themselves to speak out - both on and off the record - about a situation they know nothing about."

Patrick has since claimed he was misquoted in the article about his daughter saying he would neither blame Disney or Dianna for Demi's problems.