Footballer David Beckham arrived back in the UK today to be at the hospital bedside of his father, who has suffered a heart attack.
The former England captain flew overnight from his new home Los Angeles to be with his father, Ted, who is now in a stable condition in the London Chest Hospital.
Beckham landed at Heathrow at about midday, where he was picked up in a car which was waiting to take him to the hospital in Bethnal Green, east London.
Wearing a brown leather shirt, white t-shirt, jeans and sunglasses, and with a bag over his shoulder, he looked sombre as he left the airport.
His spokesman said he had spoken to him when he landed but that he did not know whether the footballer would be making any kind of statement at the hospital. He said: "His priority is to see his dad and that is his first concern."
The footballer flew back to the UK unaccompanied by his wife, Victoria, the former Spice Girl, who is tied up with work commitments in Japan.
The spokesman, who confirmed Mr Beckham had suffered a heart attack, said earlier: "Victoria is in Japan working but obviously she has been informed of it and she is concerned."
Mr Beckham, 59, was taken by ambulance to hospital from his home in Chingford, east London, last night after complaining of chest pains.
It was reported that he had to be resuscitated during the journey to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London, but the London Ambulance Service (LAS) refused to confirm this.
