Doctors treating soccer star George Best said on Thursday he is stable as he fights for his life.
The former Manchester United star, who had a life-saving liver transplant three years ago but went back to hard drinking, has been in a hospital’s intensive-care unit (ICU) for a month. His condition deteriorated dramatically on Wednesday.
”George Best remains in intensive care,” the Cromwell hospital in west London said in a statement. ”His condition is stable, but he is suffering from complications common in ICU patients. The unit is doing everything possible.”
Two days ago, Best’s agent, Phil Hughes, said his condition appeared to be improving. But Alex Best, who divorced the former Northern Ireland international last year, said there was a big change in the 59-year-old’s health on Wednesday.
”I have been told that George’s condition has deteriorated dramatically during today,” Alex said as she left the hospital. ”I am just praying that, once again, he somehow manages to pull through against all the odds. My thoughts and prayers are with him.”
Reports said he was bleeding internally and on life support.
”It may be an exaggeration to say that Mr Best is gravely ill. But he is certainly severely ill and is fighting for his life,” Professor Roger Williams, who is in charge of the Best’s care, was quoted as saying in The Sun newspaper. ”We are not giving up. There’s still a chance we can get him through this.”
Hughes said Best’s condition was stable.
”He came in with a chest infection originally but now that has spread to his kidneys and it is affecting his other organs,” he told the Daily Mail. ”He’s got internal bleeding; he’s seriously ill. At this point, he’s fighting for his life. It’s about as bad as it can get.
”George has been unconscious since 1pm. His doctors immediately adjusted the drugs he’s on and he is stable now. The doctors hope to see how he is early tomorrow morning.”
One of the game’s all-time greats, Best ended his career at age 28 and turned to a celebrity lifestyle. After 180 goals in 465 appearances for Manchester United, he walked away from daily training and playing for United and Northern Ireland to pursue business and showbiz interests. He was photographed regularly with a girl on each arm and bottle of champagne in each hand.
Best tried several comebacks at home and abroad and, in the North American Soccer League, he scored 54 goals in 139 games for the Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and San Jose Earthquakes.
But his lifestyle led to self-confessed alcoholism and Best ran into trouble with the law. With his career as a player over, one of his lowest points came in January 1983 when he was hit over the head with a beer glass in a London pub just hours after he had appeared at the Bankruptcy Court for failing to pay back taxes.
Just before Christmas the following year, Best was jailed for three months for drunk driving, assaulting a police officer and jumping bail.
In March 2000, Best collapsed and found that he was effectively dying of liver failure.
Accompanied by his wife, Alex, Best was rushed to hospital after collapsing with severe liver damage, and doctors told him that one more drink could kill him.
As part of his treatment, Best had stomach implants to make him sick if he touched alcohol. In 2002, he underwent a 10-hour liver transplant to repair the damage caused by decades of chronic alcoholism.
Best said he did not have a drink in 12 months, a requirement for eligibility for a transplant.
After the transplant, he looked far healthier but began drinking again, causing a public outcry from relatives of those who were still waiting for a new liver. — Sapa-AP