Update: Oscar hospital visit confirmed

Prison authorities have confirmed that Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was taken to hospital on Thursday morning, reports the Pretoria East Rekord.

Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, however, said he had received no reports to the effect that Pistorius had suffered chest pains.

“I cannot confirm that he suffered chest pains.”

Pistorius is serving a six-year sentence in Atteridgeville prison after he was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

The department of correctional services said Pistorius was taken to the hospital for a check-up.

“Oscar Pistorius was taken to an outside hospital establishment this morning for a medical examination, and is expected back in the facility later today,” Nxumalo said.

“He was taken for a normal check up that’s all.”

Earlier

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was rushed to a Pretoria hospital on Thursday because of chest pains, reports the Pretoria East Rekord.

A reliable source said an ambulance took him to the casualty section of Kalafong Hospital in the morning.

Pistorius’ brother, Carl, could not be reached for comment immediately.

The athlete is currently serving a six-year prison sentence in Pretoria after he was convicted of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said he had received inquiries on the matter on Thursday and was still awaiting a response from the Atteridgeville prison in Pretoria.

Last year in August, Pistorius was rushed to same hospital after sustaining injuries to his wrists in jail.

At the time, Nxumalo said the Paralympian told authorities he had injured himself after falling out of bed.

But an inmate situated close to the hospital section told City Press that Pistorius had injured himself intentionally.

Pistorius was transferred from the Kgosi Mampuru II Prison to the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre last year as the facility was better equipped to accommodate him, Nxumalo said.

The Paralympic gold medallist shot dead Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day in 2013.

According to The Citizen, initial reports were that personnel at the Atteridgeville Prison thought Pistorius had suffered a heart attack. Further information received was that Pistorius was treated by medical personnel at the hospital’s prison ward and discharged at around 2pm.

– Caxton News Service