Feb 7, 2008, 12:35 GMT
Britain's Zara Phillips has kept a bedside vigil for her rugby star boyfriend since he was rushed to hospital with a suspected ruptured liver over the weekend.
The 26-year-old royal watched in horror as Mike Tindall collapsed in agony in the 64th minute of England's game against Wales at London's Twickenham Rugby Stadium on Saturday (02.02.08).
Zara accompanied Tindall, 29, to a nearby hospital, where he was put on a high-dependency unit for two days, before tests revealed he was merely suffering from bruising around the organ.
A hospital source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "He was in a lot of pain and had it been a ruptured liver, it could have been life threatening. In the end, it was just bruising but doctors kept him in to ensure he recovers well."
Tindall is expected to be discharged later this week, but has been ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations rugby tournament and may not be fit enough to play for his Gloucester rugby team again this season.
A source close to the sportsman said: "Mike is absolutely gutted. He couldn't play in the Rugby World Cup because he broke his leg and now this. He can't believe his unluckiness."
England's rugby team will play Italy in Rome on Sunday (10.02.08) in their second Six Nations game.
(C) BANG Media International
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