The player flew out of Los Angeles on Wednesday and arrived at Heathrow at noon on Thursday. His wife, Victoria, is expected to join him on Friday.

Ted Beckham, 59, was currently "in a stable condition", a hospital trust spokesman said.

A spokesman for the footballer said: "His father has had a heart attack and is currently being treated in hospital.

"His priority is to see his dad and that is his first concern."

Victoria, currently working in Japan, was cutting short her trip to return to the UK on Friday, the couple's spokesman added.