Stephen Hawking 'very ill'

Professor Stephen Hawking, arguably the world’s most famous scientist, is “very ill” in hospital, Cambridge University said today.

Professor Hawking, who works at the university, was undergoing tests at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

A university spokesman said the 67-year-old physicist, who is best known for his book 'A Brief History of Time', was taken to Addenbrooke’s by ambulance.

“Professor Hawking is very ill,” he added.

Prof Hawking suffers from motor neurone disease and is wheelchair bound. He speaks with the help of a voice synthesiser.

He developed symptoms of the disease while studying in the 1960s and is one of the world's longest-surviving sufferers.

He has worked at Cambridge's department of applied mathematics and theoretical physics for more than 30 years and since 1979 has been the university's Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.

He lives in Cambridge and has three children and one grandchild.

The university spokesman said: "He is undergoing tests. He has been unwell for a couple of weeks."

Prof Peter Haynes, head of the university's department of applied mathematics and theoretical physics, added: "Professor Hawking is a remarkable colleague. We all hope he will be among us again soon."