Newz Forum: SOCCER: Diego Maradona critical in hospital

Argentina legend Diego Maradona remains in a critical condition in hospital, where he is suffering from hypertension and breathing difficulties.

Maradona, one of the greatest players ever to play the game, was admitted to the intensive care unit of a Buenos Aires hospital on Sunday afternoon, where he was sedated, intubated and attached to a machine to aid his breathing.But doctors said in a statement on Monday that the 43-year-old was making "satisfactory" progress, and said his arterial pressure was normalising.Family doctor Alfredo Cahe denied Maradona had taken a coc aine overdose. Maradona, who has been battling drug addiction for years, is being helped to breathe by a respiratory machine. The Argentina legend was admitted to the clinic with high blood pressure and respiratory failure just hours after seeing former side Boca Juniors play. It emerged later on Monday he had also developed a lung infection.Maradona's former wife Claudia Villafane has visited him together with their two children.Former Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo, his friend and former agent Guillermo Coppola and ex-Argentina international Hector Enrique have also been to the hospital.In 2000 Maradona suffered a severe heart attack.He was taken to a hospital in critical condition and then went through a long period of recovery treatment in Cuba.Well-wishers crowded outside the clinic as news of Maradona's plight spread, forcing police officers to cordon off the entrance and hold back the crowd.One fan held aloft a photograph of Maradona in his playing prime, while a banner read "Diego, Argentina loves you".

[Edited on 19/4/04 by TRD]

I dont mean to sound like a b'stard but i hope he dies. He cost us the WEorld Cup back in the 70's.

Well i can't say i am a great fan of his either and he has just brought this on himself.Drug taking,drug test cheating and that goal against England 'the hand of god' yeah right!

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona is no longer in a critical condition, his doctor has revealed. Maradona was taken to hospital on Sunday with heart and breathing problems, and his condition worsened when both his lungs became infected.

Dr Alfredo Cahe said that the 43-year-old appears to have come through the worst of his ordeal.

Maradona's breathing is being aided but Cahe is confident he will be off the respirator within the next few days.

Cahe said Maradona would be in hospital for some time yet but he believed he would "respond positively to treatment with antibiotics".

Cahe denied Maradona, who has been battling drug addiction for years, had taken a coc aine overdose.

It looks like he is off the critical list and for his doctor to say it wasn't drug related well i can't believe that..

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona was put back on a breathing respirator on Saturday evening as he recovers from lung and heart problems.
Doctors insisted the return to a breathing tube did not indicate the 43-year-old's health was worsening.

"The latest analysis does not show any further complication," a statement from the hospital said.

Maradona was taken to hospital last Sunday with breathing trouble before tests also revealed infected lungs.

Medical staff decided to take him off the respirator to see how his body would react but he showed signs of breathing difficulties.

"The progress, although it is positive, will be slow and hard due to the seriousness of his condition," added the hospital statement.

On Friday, Maradona was thought to be showing signs of a recovery and the hospital reported: "There has been a clear improvement.

"The breathing functions are intact and the brain tomography showed normal parameters. His heart rhythm and blood pressure are normal."