New hope for George Best the 'fighter'

Doctors treating George Best were today hoping he could come off his ventilator.

The 59-year-old partly regained consciousness yesterday and could move his head and eyes. He is in intensive care at the Cromwell Hospital in Earl's Court with a lung infection. Professor Roger Williams, who is treating the former Manchester United footballer, said Best had shown signs of improvement.

"All of us have been very excited by the fact that when the sedation was removed he regained some level of response," said Professor Williams.

But he said he was "not confident" of recovery and "he can be affected very easily by any infection. What we hope is over the next 24 hours his brain will recover so he can come off a ventilator. His brain is working and he's partly conscious".

Calling Best a " tremendous fighter", the professor said: "None of us have seen anybody come through as many serious complications. He must be very strong inside."

Best's family are at his bedside. Last month he caught a flu-like infection. A kidney infection developed but he seemed to be recovering until Friday's lung infection.