23/11/2005

Best has 'bad night' in hospital

Doctors treating football legend George Best have said the 59-year-old had a "bad night" on Tuesday.

Professor Roger Williams said Best partly regained consciousness on Tuesday after being taken off sedation at Cromwell Hospital. However, his condition worsened between 1am and 2am on Wednesday, prompting doctors to change his medication and he has since become more settled.

"None of us have seen anybody come through as many serious complications as he's had - he must be a very strong person inside," Professor Williams said.

Best's family are keeping a constant vigil at his bedside where he is currently on a ventilator.

The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star was admitted to the west London hospital at the beginning of October following a kidney infection. Several weeks later his condition worsened after it was revealed he was suffering internal bleeding from the bowel.

Best had a liver transplant in 2002 which was a direct result of his many years of heavy drinking.

His current condition is not thought to be directly related to his infamous struggle with alcohol addiction.

(MB/SP)

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