The United Kingdom Independence Party has launched an investigation into a fight between two members that left a party figurehead hospitalised.
Steven Woolfe, a favourite to take on party leadership and a lawmaker for the European Parliament (MEP), fainted on Thursday at the European Parliament building in Strasbourg after being punched in the face during a fight with a fellow party member.
"I can confirm that I have asked the Party Chairman and Party Secretary to conduct an investigation early next week from which the truth will be discovered," said acting leader Nigel Farage.
He also said any statements made by UKIP representatives who were not present at the fight were extremely unhelpful.
Chairman Paul Oakden assured that the party would recover from the incident and would react appropriately once the facts were known.
Lisa Duffy, runner up in the recent party elections, said Woolfe told her the fight began when he admitted he had toyed with the idea of leaving UKIP and joining the Conservative Party.
Woolfe, an MEP for the North West of England, is widely considered favourite to take over from former party leader Diane James who stepped down on Wednesday after only 18 days in charge, plunging the party into fresh turmoil.
The third most voted party in the United Kingdom, UKIP fought a strong campaign during the Brexit referendum.
After the UK announced it would be leaving the European Union, Farage resigned from his post as he considered he had achieved his goal of getting the UK to divorce from the communitarian bloc.
