Former rugby league player Steve Prescott admitted to hospital

Former rugby league player Steve Prescott, MBE, has been admitted to hospital following his participation in the gruelling 48 hour Race to the Grand Final.

The challenge, which saw Prescott swim, run cycle and canoe his way from Hull to Manchester, left him significantly drained and reported experiencing severe stomach pains on Sunday afternoon.

As the pain worsened, Prescott, who was diagnosed with a rare form of abdominal cancer in 2006, was admitted to hospital on Monday evening.Following a series of tests doctors have established that, due to the rigors of the challenge, he has lost a substantial amount of natural fuels and fluids, including electrolytes, meaning his bowel is unable to function.

Doctors have prescribed a range of treatments to Prescott while gradually bringing his fluid levels back to normal, he was also administered a course of morphine to relieve the pain and remained in hospital overnight under observation.

Prescott is said to be responding well to treatment but will remain in hospital, under medical observation, for the next day or so.On Saturday the former rugby league fullback successfully completed his latest endurance challenge staged to raise money for the Steve Prescott Foundation, which supports The Christie cancer hospital in Manchester and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund.

The Race to the Grand Final saw the former rugby league ace run across the Humber Bridge, swim one mile in open water, cycle from Hull to Liverpool where they swam the Mersey, before running between Liverpool and Runcorn. Finally Steve canoed up the Bridgewater Canal to Old Trafford in Manchester.