Belgian PM suffers "partial hearing loss" after starting gun fired near his ear

Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel has received treatment for partial hearing loss after Princess Astrid fired a starting pistol for a race within inches of his ear, his spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Astrid, the younger sister of Belgium's King Philippe, fired the blank to kick off the 20 km race within a hair's breadth of Michel's left ear in Brussels Sunday.

The spokesman said the PM was also suffering from tinnitus, sometimes described as ringing in the ears.

The PM underwent further medical tests on Monday and Tuesday, and had to skip an appearance in parliament for a presentation of a national investment plan, according to the spokesman.

"The Prime Minister must follow a number of treatments within 48 hours after the incident," told his spokesman Barend Leyts.

"Further medical treatment is expected through the week," Leyts added.