George Best RIP
Discussion
Legend Best 'nearing end of life'
George Best
Best's condition worsened early on Wednesday
Footballing legend George Best is unlikely to survive beyond the next 24 hours, his doctor has said.
He could not recover from the internal bleeding that developed during the night, Professor Roger Williams said.
"He could die at any time over the next 24 hours. I would be very surprised if he survives another 24 hours," he said.
The former Northern Ireland star's condition deteriorated with a lung infection on Friday, after almost eight weeks in Cromwell Hospital, London.
The star was admitted to hospital on 1 October with flu-like symptoms.
Drugs needed after his liver transplant in 2002 had made the former alcoholic more susceptible to infection.
Everything has got worse and we are not controlling things well any more
Prof Williams
Best's doctor
Dr Akeel Alisa said: "George has had a very bad night. He's very, very ill. I think we must all prepare ourselves for the worst.
"George is a friend, not just a patient. It's been a very emotional day."
The man who oversaw Best's liver transplant, Professor Roger Williams, said the outlook was "very gloomy" as there had been a "definite downturn in his condition".
"Bleeding has been a big problem.
"We don't think he is going to keep on surviving but it is difficult to say how long."
'Critical'
He added: "Everything has got worse and we are not controlling things well any more."
Best's closest family arrived at the west London hospital looking very upset and asked the gathered media not to film or photograph them as they went in.
George Best
Best's condition worsened early on Wednesday
Things had looked more positive earlier in the week when Best regained consciousness.
He was taken off sedation and was described as "fairly stable" by Prof Williams.
But then his condition deteriorated once more between 0100 and 0200 GMT on Wednesday.
Best helped Manchester United win a string of titles in the 1960s and he was European Footballer of the Year in 1968.
His style captivated football fans around the world but his playboy lifestyle degenerated into alcoholism and bankruptcy.
Sorry
lazyitus said:
Why is the dying man getting this flak. He's dying FFS.
He might have wasted some gifts but he certainly wasn't a bad man. Reserve your jollities for murderers and rapists, surely?
Wouldn't quite call it flak. People are a bit non-plussed as it's been coming for years, and it is largley due to his own negligence. If he was a heroin addict, rather than an alcoholic, would you look at it the same way? Either way his addiction will kill him. You are right about one thing though, he had a gift, and he had everything he could ever want, and yet he still did his best to throw it all away over drink.
I couldn't care less either way. I don't wish him dead, but it's not something I'm going to lose any sleep over.
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