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George Best leaves hospital to recover at home |
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April
15, 2000
LONDON, APR 14 (AP) - Soccer great George Best has been released from hospital and is resting at home after more than a month of treatment for a chronic liver condition caused by his heavy drinking.
The 53-year-old former Manchester United star was taken to hospital in early March complaining of severe abdominal pains, which doctors said were the direct cause of his drinking problem. After being told that continued alcohol abuse would almost certainly kill him, Best promised to give up drinking.
According to newspaper reports, the former winger, who had gained considerable weight in recent years, lost around 35 pounds (15.9 kilos) recovering in hospital.
"He will be checked every week, but it will be some weeks before he is feeling well," said Prof. Roger Williams, consultant at the Cromwell Hospital in west London.
Williams said Best "improved considerably" during the past week and was allowed to go home to convalesce.
Best was one of the stars of the Manchester United team which won the 1968 European Cup. He was voted European player of the year that season.
Best retired from soccer at the early age of 26 and, despite spells in the United States and brief comebacks that ended in failure, gained a reputation as being a hard drinker. |