At nearly 86 years old, former president Jimmy Carter shows no signs of slowing down into graceful retirement – but an unscheduled stomach upset has briefly derailed plans for his latest book tour.
Landing in Cleveland, Ohio, to promote his 26th book, White House Diary, the 2002 Nobel peace prize winner was whisked from Cleveland airport by ambulance to a nearby hospital after complaining of stomach pains this morning.
The Carter Centre, founded by the former president, released a statement:
"At his doctor's recommendation, President Carter will remain overnight to rest at Metro Health Hospital in Cleveland and plans to resume his book tour tomorrow in Washington DC."
Carter's grandson, Georgia state senator Jason Carter, told the Associated Press: "I haven't talked to him but nobody in the family is concerned."
White House spokesman Bill Burton said President Obama called Carter from Air Force One while Obama was flying from New Mexico to Wisconsin. Carter was feeling great, Burton told journalists.
The former president has maintained a busy schedule since leaving office, and at the end of last month flew to North Korea to help release a US hostage held there, Aijalon Mahli Gomes. Carter celebrates his 86th birthday on Friday.
