George HW Bush admitted to hospital with neck injury after fall

Former US President George HW Bush has been admitted to hospital after breaking a neck bone in a fall.

His spokesman, Jim McGrath, said the 41<sup>st US president is "stable" but that he will have to wear a neck brace after the fall at his home in Kennebunkport, Maine, on 15 July.

41 fell at home in Maine today and broke a bone in his neck. His condition is stable -- he is fine -- but he'll be in a neck brace.
— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) July 16, 2015

Bush, 91, was being treated at the Maine Medical Center in Portland.

"He was brought here earlier today and diagnosed with a fracture in his neck. He is in stable condition and will be wearing a neck brace," Matt Paul, a spokesman for the hospital, was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper.

He added that Bush will be kept overnight at the hospital and that it was "too early to say when he will be released".

Bush, who suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease, is the oldest living former US president and the last living president who is a veteran of World War II.

After his son Jeb Bush formally announced his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in June, the senior Bush tweeted he was one of the "proudest parents in America".

Yesterday the country saw a great leader and good man point the way to a better future. I am 1 of the 2 proudest parents in America today.
— George Bush (@GeorgeHWBush) June 16, 2015