Best 'hours numbered' says doctor

Former Northern Ireland and Manchester United football star George Best's condition has taken a "definite downturn," his doctor has said.

Professor Roger Williams described the outlook as "gloomy," that Best could not recover from the internal bleeding that developed during the night, and that "his hours are numbered".

Speaking from west London's Cromwell Hospital, Professor Williams said "everything" was worse for the Belfast born star and that drugs were no longer being used to keep him alive.

"We don't think he is going to keep on surviving but it is difficult to say how long," he said. "Everything has got worse and we are not controlling things well any more."

The 59-year-old was admitted to hospital at the beginning of October following a kidney infection. Several weeks later his condition worsened and it was revealed he was suffering internal bleeding from the bowel.

Although Best rallied slightly earlier this week, regaining consciousness for a time, his condition deteriorated markedly overnight.

George Best underwent a liver transplant in 2002 as a direct result of his many years of heavy drinking. Drugs given following transplant surgery that reduce the risk of organ rejection can often cause problems by increasing susceptibility to infections.

Best's close family asked not to be filmed or photographed as they entered the hospital in west London today.

(MB/SP)