Convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius was back in his cell hours after it was claimed he tried to kill himself.
The disgraced Paralympic star was hospitalised on Saturday, just hours after the Olympic Games kicked off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Department of Correctional Services was only willing to confirm that “Oscar’s minor injuries” to his wrists were attended to at the Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria, where is is serving his six-year jail term.
And that he was then sent to the Kalafong Hospital for further treatment. He was later taken back to prison.
Spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo said Oscar has denied it was a suicide attempt.
“The official report states he [Pistorius] made a call after falling off his bed,” he says.
“In no way in our statement did we talk about suicide, we understand that there are a lot of rumours going around and it is something we need to investigate.”
There was speculation that Oscar may have tried to kill himself after a number of blades were allegedly found in his cells, following a raid.
But his brother Carl Pistorius denied this, tweeting yesterday: “Jenna and I have just seen Oscar and he is doing well given the circumstances. He was in good spirit. I know there are reports saying that he tried to injure himself - they are completely untrue and sensational....He slipped in his cell and injured himself, nothing serious.”
It is not clear whether “Jenna” is Oscar’s former girlfriend, Jenna Edkins, who attended his trial.
The paraplegic was banned from participating in the Paralympics in 2014, and the International Paralympics Committee said he would only be able to compete again in 2019.
Oscar has been jailed for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at his home in Pretoria on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
The National Prosecuting Authority has filed an appeal against the 29-year-old’s six-year sentence, saying he should get the minimum 15-year sentence.
Soon after news of his hospitalisation broke, social media was abuzz with comments on the incident.
Jennifer Singleton @JenEvent tweeted: “How many other people cut their wrists open when they fall out of bed, with blades? I mean I always do. #oscarpistorius”