President to be flown back by air ambulance

President George Abela is in pain and needs bed rest after injuring his back in a fall last Friday as arrangements were being made yesterday to fly him back from China in an air ambulance.

Dr Abela, 62, yesterday spoke to a team of Maltese doctors at Mater Dei Hospital through a medical teleconference from the Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai where he is recovering.

Chinese doctors made available the radiological investigations, which confirmed that Dr Abela fractured one of the bones in his spine.

A medical bulletin issued by the Department of Information said the injury was "associated with severe bruising and pain and the President needed bed rest, immobilisation and pain relief".

Health Minister Joe Cassar told The Sunday Times that Dr Abela had a hairline fracture which meant he had to lie down.

Given the length of journey and the nature of the injury, he added, efforts were being made yesterday to contract an air ambulance to bring the President back as soon as possible.

An orthopaedic surgeon who spoke to The Times last Friday said the nature of the fracture was not a serious injury in itself but it required rest.

Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Dr Abela yesterday and asked to be briefed about his condition by the medical team looking after him.

The two had an informal conversation with Mr Jintao wishing the President a speedy recovery and Dr Abela thanking him for finding the time to visit.

Dr Abela said the Maltese delegation had been overwhelmed by the excellent treatment and hospitality shown by the Chinese, and he made special reference to the doctors and hospital staff. He also invited the Mr Hu to visit Malta. Dr Abela injured his back after slipping while on his way to breakfast at the hotel in Shanghai hosting the Maltese delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.

The delegation was in China for the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo 2010. Dr Abela cancelled his engagements after the accident, with Dr Borg attending the opening ceremony on Friday in his stead and officially opening the Malta pavilion yesterday.

Before leaving China yesterday, Dr Borg visited the President in hospital.

This is the second time Dr Abela has been hospitalised since assuming office last year. Last December he fainted during the funeral Mass of a close friend and had to be kept in hospital for three days. He had suffered a drop in blood pressure and was diagnosed as suffering from fatigue.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com