WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and injured a hunting companion in Texas over the weekend, U.S. media reported Sunday.

    Harry Whittington, Cheney's hunting companion during a quail hunting trip in Texas on Saturday, was mostly injured on his right side, with shotgun pellets hitting his cheek, neck and chest, the reports said.

    Whittington, 78, was "alert and doing fine" in the hospital, Katharine Armstrong, owner of the Armstrong Ranch in south Texas, was quoted by CNN as saying.

    Cheney spent time with Whittington, a lawyer from Austin, and his wife at the hospital on Sunday, CNN said.

    Whittington shot a bird and was looking for it in the tall grass, while Cheney and the third hunter walked to another spot and found a second covey, Armstrong said.

    She said Cheney didn't see Whittington, and when he chose a bird to shoot, he accidentally hit Whittington, who was "in the in the line of fire."

    Whittington was bleeding, but he was not very seriously injured, she said.

    Cheney was very apologetic, she added. Enditem