Office says Rep. Jackson being treated for 'physical and emotional ailments'

U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. stands with a group of about 50 ministers and other religious leaders voicing support for his re-election campaign during an event at the Park 52 restaurant in February. (Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune / February 20, 2012)

A week after U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. announced he was taking a leave of absence, his office released a statement today saying his condition is "more serious than initially believed" and he is being treated in an "in-patient facility."

In a statement that contained few details, the office said "recently we have been made aware that he has grappled with certain physical and emotional ailments privately for a long period of time.

"According to the preliminary diagnosis from his doctors, Congressman Jackson will need to receive extended in-patient treatment as well as continuing medical treatment thereafter."

The statement gave no further details on Jackson's medical condition or where or how he's being treated.

"We ask that you keep Congressman Jackson and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult period,” the brief statement ended.

On June 25, Jackson announced that he had begun a medical leave back on June 10. The announcement said he was suffering from exhaustion.

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Lifeguard’s controversial firing under review

Amid a public outcry, officials in Florida say they plan to review whether the firing of a lifeguard who left his "zone" to help save a swimmer was justified.

Tomas Lopez, the 21-year-old lifeguard, was fired on Monday after he left his station to help a man who had been pulled out of the water in an unprotected area of Hallandale Beach. According to the Orlando Sun Sentinel, Lopez and an off-duty nurse tended to the man, a 21-year-old from Estonia, until paramedics arrived. The man—who is recovering at a local hospital—was in a "swim at your own risk" area of the beach about 1,500 feet south of the boundary lifeguards are expected to patrol.

"I was on stand, and guests came up to me and told me there was someone drowning, that people were screaming and so I started running in the direction," Lopez told NBC Miami. "I ran out to do the job I was trained to do—I didn't think about it at all."

Lopez' dismissal sparked near-immediate criticism; two fellow guards quit in protest.