Former Premier David Saul has been airlifted to hospital in the US after having a heart attack.

The 69-year-old former United Bermuda Party leader was taken to the Lahey Clinic in Boston on Wednesday evening, where his wife Christine and son Jonathan, 39, are by his side.

Dr. Saul's daughter Robin, who is on the Island, told The Royal Gazette yesterday that her father was out of intensive care and was expected to make a full recovery.

She said he appeared to have had the heart attack without immediately knowing about it. "He didn't seem to notice," she said. "As far as I could tell, in the last couple of weeks he's been complaining about a sore throat."

"There were three blockages and two required stents.

"One they think they can clear. He's doing well, he's out of intensive care. The prognosis is good."

Miss Saul, 36, said her father was due to fly back to Bermuda on Wednesday. Dr. Saul, director of Fidelity Investments, served as the UBP MP for Devonshire South from 1989 to 1997.

He was Finance Minister from 1989 until 1995, the year he became Premier. He resigned from the top job in March 1997.