Britain's best ever football star (and most famous alcoholic) is in intensive care.

Best in intensive care
12:59pm 3rd October 2005




George Best in 2003: Long fight against alcoholism


Troubled former Manchester United and Northern Ireland international George Best has been rushed into intensive care with a kidney infection, doctors have said.

The 59-year-old is being treated at the private Cromwell Hospital in west London.

George Best has become one of Britain's best known alcoholics, as famous for his boozy antics as he is for his past sporting achievement.

The former Manchester United star, who once confessed he had spent a lot of his money on "booze, birds and fast cars", caused controversy when he embarked on a drinking binge less than a year after his liver transplant.

He had been told one more drink could kill him when he underwent the life-saving surgery in July 2002.

Earlier this year, Best was criticised by a liver specialist for putting people off organ donation.

Transplant expert Derek Manas, who treated football legend Brian Clough, said 45 per cent of relatives now consent to organ donation when a loved one died compared to 70 per cent two years ago.

In November last year he had a second operation to check on the condition of his liver and afterwards declared himself fit and healthy, vowing he would be around "for a long time, hopefully".

Since his divorce from wife Alex in April 2004 he has cut an increasingly shambolic figure.

The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star was kicked out of Forest Mere health farm in Hampshire, his home for the past two years, in June this year.

In the same month, he was spotted with two black eyes allegedly inflicted by his partner Ros Hollidge.

In August he was against sporting a black eye after he was reportedly beaten up by three men in a pub in Surbiton, Surrey.

A hospital spokesman confirmed Best had been admitted to the intensive care unit but said no further details were available at present.

dailymail.co.uk

   

Hate to get that guy's liver in an organ transplant

   

I'm surprised he lived as long as he has.

   

Best 'stable' as he fights for life

26th October 2005

Football legend George Best is seriously ill but "stable" as he fights for his life in hospital.

The former Manchester United star, 59, is suffering from internal bleeding and is being treated in intensive care at the Cromwell Hospital in west London.

The private hospital released an update on Best's condition which said: "George Best remains in intensive care. His condition is stable but he is suffering from complications common in ICU patients."

The statement continued:"The unit is doing everything possible."

The former Northern Ireland footballer, who had a life-saving liver transplant in 2002, was admitted to the Cromwell nearly four weeks ago suffering from an infection.

He has had a well-documented battle against alcoholism, but the latest health problems are thought to be related to immuno-suppressant drugs he has been taking for his condition rather than drinking.

Best's agent, Phil Hughes, said on Wednesday that his condition was "as bad as it gets".

He said the infection had spread from his chest to his kidneys, and was also affecting other organs.

Reports claimed Best had sent messages to friends and ex-girlfriends saying: "I'm near the end."

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