Richards back on his feet

Just three days after having brain surgery, Keith Richards was discharged from hospital early today.

He moved into a hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, after waving farewell to medical staff as he left the Ascot Hospital via a back exit.

The Rolling Stones guitarist developed a blood clot on the brain after falling out of a coconut tree on holiday in Fiji two weeks ago.

Despite rumours that he is still seriously ill, Richards, 62, is being allowed to recuperate in the hotel with his wife Patti Hansen and four children.

Earler yesterday, he had gone for a four-hour stroll round the hospital grounds. His spokesman has insisted Richards 'continues to improve as expected' and added that his operation on Monday was '100 per cent successful and there was no brain damage'.

Experts said yesterday that already being up and about shows he is recovering well for his age.

'Recovery from this sort of operation can take weeks or even months and progress can often be slower for older people and people who drink heavily,' said Dr Annabel Bentley, assistant medical director at Bupa. 'While you can never tell at this early stage how successful this procedure is, this is a good sign.' Richards's family and friends were optimistic about his ability to bounce back.

'Keith has been progressing extremely well,' his stepfather William Richards said. 'He's been up and about and he's been on the phone to family and friends reassuring people that he will be fine.

'Keith has the constitution of an ox. He's been through a lot in his life and he'll get through this. I am sure he will recover well. It is nonsense to say that he may never recover properly.'

He said it had been a particularly difficult time for Richards's mother Doris, 90, who was in bed ill herself.

'This all seems to have happened at the same time,' he said at their Kent home. 'When Keith became ill we already had a lot on our plates.