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11-24-05, 10:39 PM
Legend Best 'enters final hours'
Ex-Manchester United star George Best is spending his final hours in hospital after doctors said his deteriorating condition was irreversible. Best, 59, could not recover from the internal bleeding that developed last night, Professor Roger Williams said.
Just before 1300 GMT, he said the former Northern Ireland international would not survive another 24 hours.
Family and friends have visited Best in London's Cromwell Hospital, where he has been treated for a lung infection.
Later on Thursday, Professor Williams added there had been "no change, just deterioration" in Best's condition.
When Best's closest family arrived at the west London hospital, they asked the gathered media not to film or photograph them as they went in.
Best has been in hospital for eight weeks, after initially suffering flu-like symptoms, but deteriorated with a lung infection on Friday.
Professor Williams said: "Mr Best is coming to the end of the long road of his ill health.
"The situation is that medically the intensive care team and everybody concerned have managed to cope with pretty well all of the complications except the one that has happened again during the night - this bleeding.
"Although [the blood] has been replaced, it has now affected the lungs and other parts, and there is really no return from that situation.
"It is just not possible to recover from that."
He added: "He is still having standard medical care and treatment but I have to tell you that his hours are numbered now and it's all very upsetting."
Family vigil
Professor Williams said: "We have just all been sitting down together and it's very upsetting for everybody, isn't it - those looking after him, the family.
"I have talked to them at great length, I think they understand everything... I think they accept what's going to happen."
Portsmouth Football Club chairman Milan Mandaric, a close friend of Best, said: "It's not easy for them - Calum loves his Dad; they are all good people like George."
After visiting Best in hospital, Mr Mandaric told reporters: "What is a shame is that people who don't know George don't know what a great man he is. He's got a large heart.
"I just want George to still be around, that would be my hope."
Former team mates Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law also arrived at the hospital on Thursday.
[B] Deterioration
Best was admitted to hospital on 1 October with flu-like symptoms, and suffered a kidney infection and internal bleeding before the latest decline.
Drugs needed after his liver transplant in 2002 had made the recovering alcoholic more susceptible to infection.
Things had looked more positive earlier in the week when Best was taken off sedation and regained consciousness.
But then his condition deteriorated once more between 0100 and 0200 GMT on Wednesday.
Best helped Manchester United win the European Cup in 1968 - the first English club to do so - and he was European Footballer of the Year that same year.
His style captivated football fans around the world but his playboy lifestyle degenerated into alcoholism and bankruptcy.
link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4465456.stm)
I know he was his own worst enemy but it is still sad.
Ex-Manchester United star George Best is spending his final hours in hospital after doctors said his deteriorating condition was irreversible. Best, 59, could not recover from the internal bleeding that developed last night, Professor Roger Williams said.
Just before 1300 GMT, he said the former Northern Ireland international would not survive another 24 hours.
Family and friends have visited Best in London's Cromwell Hospital, where he has been treated for a lung infection.
Later on Thursday, Professor Williams added there had been "no change, just deterioration" in Best's condition.
When Best's closest family arrived at the west London hospital, they asked the gathered media not to film or photograph them as they went in.
Best has been in hospital for eight weeks, after initially suffering flu-like symptoms, but deteriorated with a lung infection on Friday.
Professor Williams said: "Mr Best is coming to the end of the long road of his ill health.
"The situation is that medically the intensive care team and everybody concerned have managed to cope with pretty well all of the complications except the one that has happened again during the night - this bleeding.
"Although [the blood] has been replaced, it has now affected the lungs and other parts, and there is really no return from that situation.
"It is just not possible to recover from that."
He added: "He is still having standard medical care and treatment but I have to tell you that his hours are numbered now and it's all very upsetting."
Family vigil
Professor Williams said: "We have just all been sitting down together and it's very upsetting for everybody, isn't it - those looking after him, the family.
"I have talked to them at great length, I think they understand everything... I think they accept what's going to happen."
Portsmouth Football Club chairman Milan Mandaric, a close friend of Best, said: "It's not easy for them - Calum loves his Dad; they are all good people like George."
After visiting Best in hospital, Mr Mandaric told reporters: "What is a shame is that people who don't know George don't know what a great man he is. He's got a large heart.
"I just want George to still be around, that would be my hope."
Former team mates Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law also arrived at the hospital on Thursday.
[B] Deterioration
Best was admitted to hospital on 1 October with flu-like symptoms, and suffered a kidney infection and internal bleeding before the latest decline.
Drugs needed after his liver transplant in 2002 had made the recovering alcoholic more susceptible to infection.
Things had looked more positive earlier in the week when Best was taken off sedation and regained consciousness.
But then his condition deteriorated once more between 0100 and 0200 GMT on Wednesday.
Best helped Manchester United win the European Cup in 1968 - the first English club to do so - and he was European Footballer of the Year that same year.
His style captivated football fans around the world but his playboy lifestyle degenerated into alcoholism and bankruptcy.
link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4465456.stm)
I know he was his own worst enemy but it is still sad.