Best back on life-support

Former soccer star George Best was fighting for survival on a life support machine, the hospital where he is being treated said Saturday.

Best, 59, was placed on the machine last night after his condition deteriorated in Cromwell Hospital, London.

It was revealed that Best is suffering from a lung infection.

The news came after Best's doctor, Professor Roger Williams, said Friday that the ex-Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer had suffered a "big setback" in his battle to recover from illness brought on by years of alcohol abuse.

Best was admitted to the hospital with an infection last month but, until recently, his condition had been improving.

Jeffrey Brandon, press officer for Cromwell Hospital, said Saturday: "Mr Best remains seriously ill in intensive care on a life support machine.

"As of yesterday morning he wasn't on a life support machine. He was put on it some time last night or yesterday evening after his condition worsened during the day from the morning to the evening.

"The reason he was brought back into intensive care was with a lung infection. He is serious."

Asked about press reports that Best's weight has fallen to just six stones, Brandon said: "You will appreciate that someone who has been seriously ill their weight will certainly have dropped."

Asked whether Best was able to eat normally, Mr Brandon said: "I would imagine he is on a drip."

Best's former Manchester United teammate Denis Law, who visited him Friday, said he was not looking good.

"I wasn't able to talk to him. He was more or less unconscious.

"You have just got to look at him and see all the tubes helping his breathing and you just feel it is not good."

Asked whether Best knew he was there, Law said: "I would like to think so but I don't think he did."

The football star earned his status when he helped Manchester United win the English league championship in 1965 and 1967 and the European Cup in 1968.

Best's ability and good looks made him into a sixties celebrity. He was known as the fifth Beatle but his partying took its toll.

He often turned out to play for United after spending the night out and when he quit United for good aged 28 it was regarded as a tragic waste of his unique talent.