France’s Sarkozy has health scare

PARIS – French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office says he was rushed by helicopter to a military hospital Sunday after he felt unwell during a strenuous jog on a hot afternoon.

Military doctors performed a battery of tests on the 54-year-old president after the episode at a presidential residence outside the capital. Although the Elysee palace said Sarkozy’s test results were normal, Sarkozy was to remain in the hospital until at least Monday morning.

His office denied that Sarkozy had lost consciousness in the episode. Earlier, the health minister indicated the French leader had fainted and his chief of staff also implied that he had lost consciousness.

France’s health minister said French President Nicolas Sarkozy fainted while jogging Sunday at a presidential residence outside the capital and was hospitalized for medical tests.

Sarkozy, 54, was elected in 2007. He is regularly seen running and is a cycling enthusiast.