The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
‘King’ Law in hospital after collapsing on plane
Tests: Holiday drama for football legend
Scottish football legend Denis Law is recovering at home after collapsing on a plane at Manchester Airport.
The 76-year-old Aberdonian, nicknamed “The King”, felt faint and slumped over his seat as he and wife Diana were about to fly to Menorca, in Spain, for a holiday.
The former Manchester United and Scotland forward was taken to Trafford General Hospital but was later released after checks and tests, with doctors understood to have diagnosed the problem as a possible vasovagal attack – sudden fainting episodes caused by several different triggers.
Mr Law said: “I went white and did not feel well at all. The next thing I collapsed while in my seat.
“I feel better now, but I’m having tests as it’s happened a few times in the past few years. It’s not pleasant – one time I thought I’d snuffed it. Hopefully I’ll be able to join the holiday soon. I felt foolish when I came round on the plane. I just conked out. There were nine of us on the plane.
“It was a nightmare and it’s worrying. We’d got up at 4.30am for the flight so that probably didn’t help. It just happened so quick, but I feel a lot better now.”
Mr Law, who recovered from prostate cancer in 2003, is a fundraiser for Cancer Research UK and a patron for the charity Meningitis Now.
Although born in Aberdeen he never played for the Dons. He started his glittering professional career at Huddersfield Town and went on the play for Manchester United, bitter rivals Manchester City and Torino in Italy.
He was capped 55 times for Scotland and scored 30 goals for his country.
He was part of the Manchester United “Holy Trinity” of the 1960s alongside George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton.
He scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for the Red Devils.
“It just happened so quick, but I feel a lot better now”