Jimmy Carter resting after being released from night in Winnipeg hospital
Former U.S. president was treated for dehydration after collapsing at charity construction site Thursday
Jimmy Carter was released from a Winnipeg hospital on Friday and briefly returned to a Habitat for Humanity build site before being taken away for further rest.
A statement from the Carter Center, a not-for-profit organization founded by the former U.S. president, said he wanted to attend the 8 a.m. devotional at the build site, helping kick off the day.
He then left for some rest but planned to return for the closing ceremony at the site, and to thank all of the volunteers for their work, a Habitat for Humanity spokesperson said.
The Carter Center said 92-year-old and his wife, Rosalynn, appreciate the many well-wishes they received worldwide after his hospitalization became headline news.
One of those came Thursday evening from another ex-president, Bill Clinton.
Thinking of Jimmy Carter today. He was working hard helping others through Habitat. I wish him a speedy recovery.
—@billclintonCarter required the medical attention Thursday morning after feeling unwell and collapsing at the Habitat build site in the city's St. James neighbourhood.
He spent the night at St. Boniface Hospital, where he was treated for dehydration.
Habitat for Humanity executives said on Thursday that Carter had gone to the hospital for observation and rehydration.
They also said he contacted them from the hospital and advised them he was feeling fine and wanted everyone to keep building the homes, which are intended for lower-income families.
On Friday, Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman tweeted a photo of him greeting Carter upon his return to the build site.
Honoured to work alongside former U.S. President Jimmy Carter & First lady Rosalynn Carter today at <a href="https://twitter.com/Habitat_org">@Habitat_org</a> build in Winnipeg. <a href="https://t.co/2yazbVBIDL">pic.twitter.com/2yazbVBIDL</a>
—@Mayor_BowmanCarter — the U.S. president from 1977 to 1981 — and Rosalynn are longtime supporters of Habitat for Humanity and are helping the not-for-profit organization with a blitz build of 25 homes in the city.
The last time Carter was in Manitoba was 1993, when he lent a hand at the construction sites for 18 other Winnipeg homes through the Habitat organization.
Sandy Hopkins, chief executive of the Manitoba chapter of Habitat for Humanity, said earlier this week that Carter wanted to return to the city because of Habitat's commitment to provide 40 per cent of the latest homes to Indigenous people.