Maradona illness blamed on partying

Dr Alfredo Cahe, his personal doctor, was called after he began to feel unwell with high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat.

Although Dr Cahe defended his patient - denying rumours he had taken a cocaine overdose - medics in Cuba said he was fine when he left a private clinic there last month and.his "disorderly life in Buenos Aires must be the cause of his relapse".

They added that if Maradona had not been hospitalised immediately and put on to the artificial respirator, he would not have survived.

Argentinian media even reported that early yesterday morning a priest was apparently sent by.Maradona's family to give him the last rites, but as no family member was present, he was not given permission.

Today hundreds of fans continue a vigil in front of the Suizo Argentino hospital in downtown Buenos Aires, chanting football songs, waving banners and praying.

A statement by the Buenos Aires clinic revealed: "Maradona is receiving medication to strengthen the heart."

It emerged he had also developed a lung problem, which appeared to be pneumonia.

"He has a lung infection because of a chill," Dr Cahe told a scrum of reporters outside the hospital.

"He is quite stable and [his progress] is relatively good."

Asked if Maradona's life was at risk, he replied: "There was [a risk] and there still is. He is making good progress, but we will be following things closely."

The Argentinian star's genius on the field - captaining his country to World Cup glory in 1986 and being named, with Pele, as officially the greatest player of all time - has been in stark contrast to his ability to cope away from the game.

He admitted he became "hooked" on cocaine 20 years ago and had been battling drug addiction for years.

In 2000, in Uruguay, he suffered a heart attack due to a cocaine overdose and began a long recovery treatment in Cuba.

Erratic behaviour continued as the 5ft 6in star bloated to 15st, dyed his hair orange, and had a Che Guevara tattoo on his arm.

He was also fitted with a monitor because his heart was so close to giving out. He returned to Argentina last month and is currently going through divorce proceedings with his childhood sweetheart, Claudia Villafane.

Argentinians, however, are rallying around their hero.

President Nestor Kirchner said: "[I send him] a big hug, I hope he recovers fast. Like all Argentines it causes me deep pain. We must stand by him."