NEWSDWTS Watch: Cristián de la Fuente Taken to Hospital
Apr. 29 2008, Published 8:57 a.m. ET
In a scene all-too reminiscent of last season's Marie Osmond on-air fainting spell, actor Cristián de la Fuente was forced to end his live performance on Monday's Dancing With the Stars after apparently injuring his arm.
"I pulled a muscle," the Chilean soap star said before the DWTS cameras cut to commericial.
Backstage, EMTs diagnosed Cristián as suffering from a severe muscle cramp and packed his arm in ice. After the show was finished, he elected to visit a nearby hospital to make sure that no more urgent damage had been done.
When reviewing the unfinished samba performed by Cristián and partner Cheryl Burke, judge Bruno Tonioli said "you did your best. I hope you're coming back because you're a great performer."
After the incident, Cheryl told OK! backstage, ""I'm still shocked by the whole thing. He had no control over it and he still kept going-tried to, at least.""
She continued fighting back tears, "I told him, 'keep your head up because your health is so much more important.'"
This is only the latest injury to plague this season of DWTS. Pro dancer Derek Hough was temporarily taken out of commission twice in recent weeks — First, the partner of actress Shannon Elizabeth during rehearsal for an upcoming number. Then, after bouncing back in near-miraculous form a week later, Derek was felled by a .
