Stephen Hawking gravely ill in hospital

by Rich Bowden - Apr 20 2009, 22:45

Eminent scientist, physicist, cosmologist and author Professor Stephen Hawking, who has suffered from physically debilitating motor neuron disease since the 1960s, lies gravely ill in a Cambridge hospital.

British press reports said the 67-year-old scientist was admitted to Adenbrooke's Hospital near his university for tests following a persistent chest infection. Professor Hawking is Cambridge University's Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.

A spokesman for Cambridge University said: "Professor Hawking is very ill," and that he would be "undergoing tests."

The spokesman added that the professor, "had been unwell for a couple of weeks."

Later announcements from Cambridge University to the BBC said the condition of the author of landmark science book A Brief History of Time was "improving" and that he was resting comfortably.

Prof. Hawking had earlier called off a planned visit to Arizona State University on April 06 because of the infection.

The scientist, who became a CBE in 1982 and a Companion of Honour in 1989, announced he would step down as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the end of the year as is the custom at Cambridge University.

Prof. Hawking is one of the world's longest survivors of motor neuron disease, yet despite this physical limitation, which includes having to communicate through a specially built voicebox, he has manged to continue his work as one of the world's top scientists.

He has three children and one grandchild.

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