Bush: I Hit The Deck

2:07pm UK, Monday January 14, 2002

President Bush has shrugged off the large bruise on his left cheek, picked up when he choked on a pretzel, fainted and fell off his sofa while watching American football on television.

Bush: Bruised, but bouncing back

The US President said he was "feeling fine" but should have listened to his mother and chewed before he swallowed.

Bush made light of the incident as he walked from the Oval Office to his helicopter, saying he had "hit the deck" and woke up to find his dogs, Barney and Spot, looking at him with concern.

"My mother always said when you're eating pretzels, chew before you swallow. Listen to your mother," Bush told reporters.

The president fell off his couch while taking in the NFL playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins, which Baltimore won 20-3.

Mr Bush's physician, Air Force Colonel Richard Tubb, said Bush, who was at the White House, got an abrasion on his left cheek and a small bruise on his lower lip after hitting his head on the carpeted floor.

Strenuous athletics

A subsequent medical examination showed he was fine. Tubb said: "I did not find anything to indicate it was serious whatsoever. He fainted due to a temporary decreased heart rate."

Bush had complained in the last couple of days that he might be coming down with a cold. He last underwent a physical examination in August and was pronounced in "excellent health."

It is thought Bush's strenuous athletic conditioning program could have been partly to blame. The president can run a mile in under seven minutes.

Tough workout

He had an aggressive workout in the White House exercise room on Saturday and also worked out on Sunday.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush thought he had been unconscious for only a few seconds.