Kenny Baker – who played the lovable droid R2-D2 in all six Star Wars films – was taken ill on a flight back to England from holiday in the United States.

His son Kevin, 35, said: "When I first arrived, I was pretty much told by the doctors that there was not a lot they could do because dad had not responded to the treatment and they fully expected him to die in his sleep.

"It was more serious than I originally reported. His chest is so small they can't tell what's wrong with it, so they can't really say when they are going to release him."

The 3ft 8in 73-year-old, who lives in Ashton, suffers from asthma and was struck down with pneumonia last year.

Kevin said: "It's not really cleared up since he's had the pneumonia and they think it might be something to with that.

"They've done a couple of x-rays. He's out of bed but he gets very tired and has to go back on the oxygen.

"He died nearly, he was very close. But he's tough and is over the worst. They want to get to the bottom of it and make sure he is fighting fit before they release him.

"And my dad really does want to thank the fans for all their well wishes."

Kenny was taken to hospital in Manchester on April 10 and was initially thought to be suffering a chest infection.

He regularly attends film conventions, signing autographs for fans, and was on his way back from one in Chicago when he fell ill.

He has appeared in numerous television programmes and other films, including Labyrinth, and put his footprints in concrete outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in 1978 – alongside the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Clint Eastwood.

>> Star Wars actor taken ill on plane

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