Dame Elizabeth Taylor is recovering in hospital after being reportedly put on a life support machine with heart failure.

A spokesman for the Oscar-winning actress confirmed she had received hospital treatment, but did not specify her condition.

Health fears: Elizabeth Taylor was reported to be 'still very sick'

In a statement, the publicist said: 'Ms Taylor is fine. Her hospital visit was precautionary. She will be returning home shortly. At present, she is surrounded by family, friends and fabulous jewels.

Her condition was said to have deteriorated after she was initially diagnosed with pneumonia last week. 

Her children were at her bedside and doctors warned she might not survive, said the U.S. publication National Enquirer.

But the following day she improved and the dual Oscar winner was breathing without medical help a few days later. 

A source said: 'The doctors thought they were going to lose her. She's still very sick, but she's past the crisis.' 

The actress, a mother of three who adopted a fourth child with Richard Burton, was taken to hospital on July 15 when flu turned into pneumonia. 

Miss Taylor, who has been married and divorced eight times and was made an honorary dame by the Queen in 2000, has been plagued by ill-health. 

She suffers from diabetes and congestive heart failure - where the heart is too weak to pump blood around the body - has had both hips replaced and had a benign brain tumour removed in 1997.

She is confined to a wheelchair because of osteoporosis. 

But she has fought hard to regain her health in recent years, with some observers even suggesting she has hopes of a film comeback. 

In 2006 she went on the U.S. chat show Larry King Live to dismiss claims that she had Alzheimer's and was close to death. 

Last year she was photographed swimming with sharks off the coast of Hawaii.