Cheney shooting victim in intensive care after heart attack

HOUSTON - The Texas lawyer accidentally shot by US vice president Dick Cheney during a weekend quail hunt suffered a minor heart attack today when some of the birdshot migrated close to his heart, a hospital spokesman said.

Harry Whittington, 78, has been moved into intensive care and will have to stay in the Corpus Christi, Texas hospital where he is being treated for at least another seven days to monitor his condition, said Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital spokesman Peter Banko.

Dr David Blanchard, the hospital's emergency room chief, said at a news conference Whittington underwent cardiac catheterisation after doctors noted an irregular heartbeat due to a minor heart attack.

"We are very, very optimistic that with Mr Whittington's strong heart ... he will do very well," Blanchard said.

Whittington took pellets in his cheek, neck and chest when Cheney fired his shotgun while aiming for a bird during a hunt in southern Texas on Saturday local time (Sunday NZT), and was taken to hospital in nearby Corpus Christi.

- REUTERS