Beckhams arrive at hospital

David Beckham’s wife Victoria joined him at his father’s bedside in London today after separate mercy dashes across the globe.

The England footballer rushed to the UK from his Los Angeles home yesterday after his father Ted’s heart attack two days ago.

He was joined at London’s Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green today by his Spice Girl wife who jetted in from Japan to be at her father-in-law’s bedside.

Ted, 59, reportedly “died” on the way to hospital and had to be resuscitated by paramedics.

The alarm was raised after the gas fitter, who once harboured dreams of being a footballer himself, complained of chest pains at his home in Chingford, east London.

He was first taken to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London, before being moved to the London Chest Hospital where he is believed to have had surgery.

The couple arrived just before 11am with David at the wheel of a luxury Bentley car and Victoria beside him in the passenger seat.

As the large vehicle arrived at the East London hospital, a 4x4 car apparently carrying Beckham staff led the way.

A man jumped out as they neared the hospital to clear a way through reporters waiting at the gates.

But one member of staff appeared to trip as the Bentley sped inside, and tumbled headlong to the ground. He was grabbed by waiting police officers who thought he was a photographer.

A stand-off ensued between the man and the police for a few minutes before the authorities accepted he was part of the Beckham entourage.

David was dressed in a leather jacket, while his wife wore large sunglasses, and both stared straight ahead as they swept into the hospital.

Father and son both share the name David, but Mr Beckham senior is known as Ted, which is short for his middle name, Edward.

An avid football and Manchester United fan, it was a dream come true for him when his only son went on to play for his favourite team.

He and his then-wife Sandra, who he has since divorced, would travel to every game at Old Trafford to watch him play.

But father and son reportedly fell out two years ago after Mr Beckham published a book called David Beckham: My Son, without getting David’s permission to write it.

The pair are believed to have been reconciled earlier this year.

His father’s heart attack is the latest blow for Beckham, whose new career at LA Galaxy and England comeback have been hampered by injury.