Advertisement

Former US president Jimmy Carter breaks hip, undergoes surgery

Jimmy Carter and his four years in office are being re-appraised by historians and analysts.

Jimmy Carter and his four years in office are being re-appraised by historians and analysts. Photo: Getty

Former US president Jimmy Carter has broken his hip at his south Georgia home when he fell while leaving to go turkey hunting.

The 94-year-old was treated in Americus, Georgia, near his home in Plains, and was recovering comfortably after successful surgery, his spokeswoman, Deanna Congileo, said in a statement.

His wife of 73 years, Rosalynn, was with him, Ms Congileo said.

In an indication Mr Carter was in good spirits, Ms Congileo said his main concern was that he had not reached his limit on turkeys with the shooting season ending this week.

“He hopes the state of Georgia will allow him to roll over the unused limit to next year,” the statement said.

In a tweet, President Donald Trump wished Mr Carter a speedy recovery, saying the former president was in great spirits when they spoke recently.

“He will be fine!” Mr Trump said.

In March, Mr Carter became the longest-living ex-president in US history, exceeding the lifespan of former President George HW Bush, who died last year at the age of 94 years, 171 days.

The milestone came despite a cancer diagnosis more than three years earlier.

Mr Carter disclosed in 2015 that he had melanoma that had spread to his liver and brain.

He received treatment for seven months until scans showed no sign of the disease.

“I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said at the time he revealed the cancer. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”

Mr Carter’s legacy since leaving office has long overshadowed his rocky White House tenure, where he lost after one term amid a US hostage crisis with Iran.

He and his wife founded the Carter Centre in Atlanta in 1982 to focus on global human rights issues.

The centre has monitored elections around the world and worked to resolve conflicts and eradicate disease, including guinea worm.

The former president and first lady still live in Plains, a town of about 750, where they were born, raised and married.

A devout Christian, Mr Carter regularly teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, drawing hundreds of visitors to Plains for each session.

-AP

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.