Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup via AP IMAGESLove can hurt—but probably not as much as this!
Kiptyn Locke, who with girlfriend Tenley Molzahn was runner-up on the first season of Bachelor Pad, needed emergency surgery yesterday to repair ruptured discs that were dangerously compressed against his spine, according to Molzahn's rep.
"Thanks to the amazing doctors who acted quickly, his 4.5 hour surgery was a success and he is on his way to what doctors feel will be a full recovery," the rep said in a statement. "Kiptyn, Tenley and his family want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We will give an update at a later time. We appreciate your continued prayers."
At least Locke doesn't have to worry about frivolities like roses and group dates anymore.
The San Francisco-born businessman first appeared on Jillian Harris' season of The Bachelorette—only to have Jillian choose eventual ex Ed Swiderski over him on the finale.
A year later, however, he found love on Bachelor Pad with Molzahn, who dodged the Jake Pavelka bullet on The Bachelor.
"The tasks today will have to be done tomorrow... A more important interruption took place," Molzahn tweeted yesterday afternoon, the first indicator that something was amiss.
"There were definitely Angels involved in this emergency," she wrote on Facebook after Locke was out of surgery. "Grateful. And so thankful for all of you encouraging us, especially Kiptyn through prayer."