The Great Stephen Hawking Taken Ill in Hospital

Leading scientist Stephen Hawking is "very ill" in hospital, his employer Cambridge University has said.

A spokesman said Professor Hawking was undergoing tests at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

The spokesman said the 67-year-old, who has motor neurone disease, had "been unwell for a couple of weeks".

More update as the news becomes clearer.

Update on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 9:40PM by Haris Abdul Rahman

The message from Cambridge is promising, but Addenbrooke is keeping it shush!

LONDON – The family of physicist Stephen Hawking expects him to recover fully from a chest infection that has left him hospitalized,Cambridge University said Tuesday.

Hawking "was being kept in observation" at Addenbrooke's hospital after being admitted Monday.

"He is comfortable and his family is looking forward to him making a full recovery," the university said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear whether the scientist's condition had actually improved or whether the family was merely basing its remarks on hopes for his improvement.

The hospital declined to comment, referring all calls to the university.