Football legend George Best has suffered a major setback in his battle to recover from illness in hospital, the doctor treating him said today.
Professor Roger Williams said Best, 59, had a 'new and severe infection'.
The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star was admitted to Cromwell Hospital in west London last month where his condition deteriorated and he was taken to intensive care.
Until recently he had been improving but he has now taken a turn for the worse, Professor Williams said.
Outside the hospital he said: 'Mr Best is not so well. He has been admitted back to intensive care. He has got a new and severe infection. He is on dialysis and he is very poorly at the moment. He was improving every day until yesterday afternoon and he was really pretty good.'
He said 'he was maintaining some progress each day and now he has acquired another infection as these patients are very susceptible to infection at this stage of recovery. Best's infection is causing problems with kidneys and everything else again.'
Professor Williams said he did not know how long Best would be in intensive care but he had a team of doctors with him and his girlfriend and his manager were both at the hospital today.
Asked if the current infection was life threatening, he said: 'He is very ill at the minute so we'll see how it goes during the day.'
