Former President Jimmy Carter was discharged from a Winnipeg hospital Friday morning after becoming dehydrated while working on a Habitat for Humanity project, the Carter Center said.
Former president Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for more than 30 years. In that time, they have helped build more than 4,000 homes.
The 92-year-old former president and former first lady Rosalynn Carter returned to the Habitat for Humanity build site, where they attended the morning devotional.
Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford said in a statement Thursday that Carter grew dehydrated after “working in the hot sun.” Upon their return Friday, Reckford tweeted, the 39th President received a “huge ovation.”
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority spokesperson Anne Bennett told CNN Thursday Carter was admitted to St. Boniface Hospital. The Carter Center said he was taken to the hospital as a precaution and Rosalynn Carter was with him.
“President Carter was dehydrated working in the hot sun. President Carter told us he is okay and is being taken offsite for observation. He encourages everyone to stay hydrated and keep building,” Reckford said Thursday.
He added, “He has asked us to continue with our day.”
Canada’s Global News reported the former president said “I’m tired” and sat down before he was taken to the hospital.
Carter and the former first lady are in Winnipeg, working on their 34th annual Habitat for Humanity “Carter Work Project.” They are working with the organization to build 150 homes this week. The Carters were pictured earlier Thursday morning in hard hats with toolbelts around their waists.
“Habitat for Humanity is the best way I’ve found in my life to put my Christian faith into action,” President Carter told volunteers Thursday, according to a tweet from Reckford.
Both President and Mrs. Carter “extend their appreciation for the many well-wishes he received worldwide,” the Carter Center said in the Friday statement.
Jim McGrath, a spokesman for former President George H.W. Bush, tweeted the 41st president’s well wishes Thursday afternoon.
“President and Mrs @GeorgeHWBush wishing President Carter a quick recovery today: ‘God bless him, and we hope he is fine,'” McGrath tweeted.
And President Bill Clinton wished him a “speedy recovery” in a Thursday evening tweet.
“Thinking of Jimmy Carter today. He was working hard helping others through Habitat. I wish him a speedy recovery,” Clinton wrote.
