Desperately ill Best ‘keeping himself alive’

GEORGE BEST cannot continue to survive “day after day after day” without showing signs of improvement, his doctor said yesterday.

Professor Roger Williams said Best, 59, was still a “desperately ill man” but was tough and was keeping himself alive.

He has been in intensive care since being struck down by a lung infection. His health deteriorated rapidly earlier this month after he developed a kidney infection.

Prof Williams said doctors had stopped sedation and were waiting to see if Best regained consciousness.

Outside Cromwell Hospital, he said: “I’ve just seen Mr Best and the situation is that he’s still hanging in there. He’s still responsive. He’s still on the ventilator.

“Some of the blood tests are a bit better, which gives us some encouragement.”

He said Best had not deteriorated overnight but he added: “We are hoping to see improvement, which is needed. There’s not much improvement but there’s no significant deterioration. His condition is stable.”

Sedation had been stopped and medics were now waiting to see if Best regained consciousness - which could take 12 hours.

Prof Williams said this particular setback of the lung infection was the worst Best had suffered.

“I’ve been gloomy since Friday about the chances of recovery. One does want to see him really begin to make headway.

“He has shown certainly a response in terms of the infection but he’s a desperately ill man.

“We need to see some improvement, otherwise he can’t survive day after day after day without some improvement occurring.”

Prof Williams said they were not keeping Best alive, adding: “He’s keeping himself alive.”

The football legend is receiving fluid, antibiotics and nutrition and is being continuously monitored.

“If these patients recover from this sort of illness, they usually recover very well,” Prof Williams said.

Best’s family are maintaining a vigil at his bedside. His agent Phil Hughes said the family was bearing up.

“He’s not in any pain whatsoever but he’s obviously still unconscious. He’s doing reasonably well and his family are beside him.”

The ex-Northern Ireland star’s son Calum was expected to visit last night.

Prof Williams said yesterday at about 6pm that the next 24 hours were crucial to Best’s survival.

He said the family was unlikely to be faced with the tough question of deciding whether treatment should be continued.

“I would imagine the situation will resolve itself naturally. That’s what normally happens. It’s not a case of switching off life support.”