Obama friend's child injured, golf interrupted

[December 29, 2009]  KAILUA, Hawaii (AP) -- President Barack Obama abruptly ended his golf outing and sped in his motorcade to his compound Monday after he learned a friend's child was injured while playing on the beach.

Members of the first family were fine, a White House official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of a reluctance to discuss personal matters involving the president.

The injury to a child belonging to Eric and Cheryl Whitaker, friends of the Obamas, was described as relatively minor and that the child did not require stitches.

The president was playing golf with friends from Chicago who joined him on his holiday vacation.

An ambulance raced to the Obamas' rented compound and then left with lights flashing.

After a brief delay, Obama returned to the course.

[Associated Press; By MARK NIESSE]

Associated Press writer Philip Elliott in Honolulu contributed to this report.

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