Best remains 'desperately ill'

George Best remained “desperately ill” today as he continued his fight for life in hospital.

The 59-year-old former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star could not continue to survive “day after day after day” without showing signs of improvement, his doctor said yesterday.

Best has been in intensive care since being struck down by a lung infection.

His family are maintaining a vigil at his bedside at Cromwell Hospital, west London, in the hope that he will pull through.

A hospital spokesman said yesterday: “George Best remains stable but in a critical condition and is still in intensive care. There has been no change from Sunday.”

The spokesman said a further update was expected this morning, although his condition was understood to have remained unchanged overnight.

His son, Calum, arrived at the hospital to visit his father at about 4pm yesterday and left two hours later.

He told reporters: “All I can say is what I said yesterday and the day before. He is doing a bit better. He is comfortable and I thank you once again for your support.”

The doctor treating Best, Professor Roger Williams, said sedation had been stopped and medics were now waiting to see if the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star regained consciousness.

Prof Williams said: “We are hoping to see improvement, which is needed.

“There’s not much improvement but there’s no significant deterioration. His condition is stable.”

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

He added: “We have stopped sedation to see whether he will wake up and that will take some hours before we know that.

“He’s a tough person to survive all that he has done. 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.”

Best is receiving fluid, antibiotics and nutrition and is being continuously monitored, he added.

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

Best’s agent Phil Hughes said the family was bearing up.

He added that he had not seen much change.

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

Hughes said it was “absolutely” the worst condition he had ever seen his friend in.

Best was admitted to hospital on October 1, suffering from flu-like infections.

His health deteriorated rapidly earlier this month when he developed a kidney infection.

His condition was thought to be improving until the early hours of Friday when he suffered a severe setback, developing a lung infection.