Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was taken to a hospital in Brasilia after falling ill, his son Flavio confirmed on Tuesday, describing a sudden bout of vomiting, severe hiccups and low blood pressure.

“My father was admitted after feeling sick, with severe hiccups, vomiting and low blood pressure,” Flavio wrote in a post on X, saying doctors were running tests and monitoring his condition closely.

Bolsonaro, 70, has long struggled with intestinal problems since he was stabbed on the campaign trail in 2018. He has undergone at least six surgeries linked to that injury, including a 12-hour procedure in April this year, according to Reuters.

The former leader was already in treatment on Sunday, when he underwent laboratory exams and had skin lesions surgically removed. His health scare now comes at a turbulent moment: just last week, a Supreme Court panel sentenced him to 27 years and three months in prison for plotting a coup after his 2022 election defeat.

Bolsonaro has been under house arrest since August amid allegations that he sought pressure on Brazil’s courts with the help of US President Donald Trump.

Since early August, the former president has been under house arrest, ordered by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who said Bolsonaro violated precautionary measures. Bolsonaro was already wearing an ankle monitor at the time.

In late August, de Moraes tightened restrictions further, directing police to inspect every vehicle leaving Bolsonaro’s home and to keep the property under constant surveillance.

Bolsonaro’s lawyers are expected to cite his worsening health in a bid to maintain house arrest, arguing he should not be moved to a detention center while serving his sentence.

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