Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Maradona on feet, walks around hospital room
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-04-29 10:45


Argentine soccer idol Diego Armando Maradona (L) hugs Cuban Dr. Pedro Llerena, director of the La Pradera health hotel, during his 41st birthday party in Havana, in this video image from October 30, 2001. [Reuters] 
Diego Maradona walked around his hospital room Wednesday, and his doctors expect him to spend only a few more days in intensive care for heart and lung treatment.

The 43-year-old soccer great was on his feet for the first time after being hospitalized 11 days ago.

Doctors said he stood up twice and took steps around his room in the Suizo-Argentina clinic, according to a daily update from his medical team. He will remain in intensive care the extra days "only to help speed up his recovery."

He is tolerating a special liquid diet and is breathing unaided after a respirator was removed last weekend.

Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, reportedly asked his doctors to let him watch Wednesday's exhibition soccer game between Argentina and Morocco on TV.

Maradona was rushed to a hospital April 18 complaining of chest pains and fever. In January 2000, he was hospitalized in Uruguay and diagnosed with a severe heart condition. He later went to Cuba for drug rehabilitation.

Maradona's family has said drug problems had nothing to do with his current hospitalization.

In his 20-year career before retiring in 1997, Maradona also led Argentina to the 1990 World Cup final, and won Italian and Argentine league titles. In 2000, FIFA chose him and Pele as the best players in soccer history.

 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

New suspected SARS case; lab visitors warned

 

   
 

Illegal land use sinks iron project

 

   
 

112 die in Thailand's quash of militants

 

   
 

Senator brands Cheney 'lead chickenhawk'

 

   
 

Reform on officials' car use in the offing

 

   
 

New Oriental language school set to appeal

 

   
  Baggio says 'arrivederci' after national team farewell
   
  China to initiate national chess league next year
   
  Euro 2004 just 6 weeks away; Germans, Czechs may need more time
   
  Schumi: 'I will lose a race this year'
   
  Maradona on feet, walks around hospital room
   
  Germany routed on night of turn-ups
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Advertisement