man shot by Cheney has heart attack

[TheTinMan]

I didn't think this was supposed to be that serious???



Man Cheney shot has heart attack
Harry Whittington
Harry Whittington is likely to bear the marks for life
The lawyer shot by US Vice-President Dick Cheney in a hunting accident has suffered a minor heart attack, a Texas hospital spokesman has said.

He said Harry Whittington, 78, suffered a heartbeat irregularity caused by a pellet lodged in his heart.

Mr Whittington was moved back into intensive care on Tuesday and will be treated for at least another week.

Dick Cheney accidentally injured his hunting companion while shooting quail on a ranch in Texas on Saturday.

Despite the heart problem, doctors said there were no immediate fears for Mr Whittington's life.

Katharine Armstrong, the owner of the private ranch where the accident occurred, said Mr Cheney had turned round to shoot at a bird, unaware Mr Whittington was behind him, and sprayed him with shotgun pellets.

The lawyer was hit in the cheek, neck and chest.

He is being treated at the Christus Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Doctors say he will probably have the pellets in his body for the rest of his life.

Mr Cheney has not publicly commented on the incident.

I listened to the press conference the Doctors gave in Texas. They seemed to be trying to imply that it was not a serious thing. They said it was an "asymptomactic" heart attack and stressed that heart attack was a lay term and did not reflect what was happening. They also said the will probably not attempt to remove that offending pellet because it appears to be still intact and round and the likelyhood that it moves is extremely remote. I hope for all concerned that the guy is alright. VP or not, it has got to really suck knowing you were on the end of the shotgun that caused this regardless of where the blame lands. The Lawyer had no idea he was having heart probs and was bugging the docs to go home when they found it.

[TheTinMan]

Yea, doesn't sound that serious now. That guy must be in pretty decent shape to be out hunting at 78, hope I'm still around fishin at that age.

Originally Posted by TheTinMan

Yea, doesn't sound that serious now. *That guy must be in pretty decent shape to be out hunting at 78, hope I'm still around fishin at that age.

I would be happy to be breathing at 78 ;D