SAO PAOLO, December 3- Five days after his condition was described as “clinically unstable,” Brazilian soccer legend Pele was out of intensive care Tuesday and walking around as he recovers from a kidney problem.
“The patient … is doing well without medical complications. He is able to walk around his room,” the Albert Einstein clinic in Sao Paolo said, in a statement.
“Following clinical analyses, resuming renal assistance was not necessary,” it added.
Media reports said Pele requested a guitar to strum as he continues his convalescence.
The clinic said 74-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known worldwide as Pele, is now receiving “semi-intensive” care but remains in the same bed as previously.
The hospital said further kidney tests will be conducted tomorrow.
Pele was “lucid and eating well” without breathing difficulties while receiving antibiotics intravenously, the hospital said.
The clinic suspended renal assistance on Sunday, six days after the three-time world champion was admitted.
Initial tests showed that Pele, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, was suffering from a urinary infection requiring antibiotics.
Last Thursday, the hospital said the man nicknamed ‘O Rei’ (the king) had been placed in intensive care after his condition became “clinically unstable,” alarming his fans.
Some Brazilian media reported that Pele had septicemia, a blood infection, after he failed to respond to treatment.
But on Friday the clinic said he was responding to antibiotics while the star insisted via social media he had simply been moved to another room for more privacy.
Pele has only one kidney after the other was removed following complications from a rib injury he suffered while playing for the New York Cosmos in the 1970s, his agent Jose “Pepito” Fornos told AFP over the weekend.
– Strumming back to health –
A hospital spokesman told AFP that Pele had received a flood of get-well-soon messages from well-wishers via social media.
And the Globo Esporte website said the former star was not just up and about but had asked for a guitar to be brought to his room .
Pele underwent kidney stone surgery in the same clinic on November 13 and was discharged two days later, joking to reporters that “I’m ready to play tomorrow” and winding down his car window to greet fans.
Named athlete of the 20th century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999, Pele was born in October, 1940 in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.
He made his name with Santos and helped Brazil to World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 197.
Pele achieved the first of his World Cup triumphs at the age of 17, scoring twice in the final win over hosts Sweden.
But he was instrumental in Brazil winning a third crown in Mexico in 1970, scoring in a 4-1 final romp over Italy.
Pele ended his career with a spell in the then embryonic US league with the New York Cosmos alongside German legend Franz Beckenbauer, who last week sent on his best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Pele scored 77 goals in 91 games for Brazil and 1,281 in his career.
