Los Angeles reporter passes out on live TV
A meteorologist from Los Angeles collapsed as she was about to deliver a live report on March 18.
Alissa Carlson of KCAL News was about to start her weather forecast that Saturday morning when her eyes suddenly rolled back. She tried to keep smiling while on camera but already fell on her desk, then on the ground.
Anchors Nichelle Medina and Rachel Kim didn't seem to notice at first, as Kim even jokingly told Carlson that it's really "the calm before the storm" while her eyes were already rolling. But as Carlson collapses, Kim is visibly disturbed as she lets out an "Oh," with Medina calling for a break.
Mike Sington, a senior executive of NBC, shared a video of the incident from KCAL News.
Terrifying moment as Los Angeles meteorologist Alissa Carlson collapses live on the air. Her colleagues immediately called 911, and she is recovering in the hospital. Carlson posted on Facebook, “I am going to be ok!” (Video: KCAL) pic.twitter.com/I5ZsHa65ZB
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) March 19, 2023
In a statement shared by NBC News, KCAL's sister station CBS Los Angeles said that moments after Carlson fainted, their team "jumped in" to help and comfort her while waiting for medical help to arrive at the time.
Mike Dello Stritto, CBS Los Angeles Vice President and News Director, also told TMZ that she was brought to the hospital after colleagues took "immediate action."
At 2:32 a.m. of March 19, Carlson wrote a Facebook post thanking everyone for their support.
"Thanks for all the texts, calls, and well wishes," she said. "I am going to be ok!"
At 4:46 a.m., KCAL News on Twitter said Carlson is already taking a rest and recovering.
She'll be back on air "as soon as she's well enough to return," the station added in a separate statement.
Carlson and KCAL News didn't disclose any information about why she fainted.
American health news website WebMD defines fainting as the sudden, brief loss of consciousness and posture due to decreased blood flow to the brain.
Fainting may also be caused by anxiety, fear, pain, intense emotional stress, hunger, or use of alcohol or drugs.
Conditions that can cause fainting include heart problems. seizures, low blood sugar, anemia, and nervous system problems.
Healthy individuals may also faint, WebMD noted. Fainting also seems to run in some families.
According to NBC News, this isn't Carlson's first medical emergency while on air. She also threw up during a live report for the Bakersfield-based KGET-TV in 2014.
She was diagnosed with a leaky heart valve or valve regurgitation, a condition in which some blood will leak backward through the heart's valve after squeezing and pumping blood forward.
Dr. Matthew Hoffman of WedMD said a leaky heart valve could cause minor or serious health problems.
A leaky heart valve frequently causes no symptoms, Hoffman noted, though severe cases could cause congestive heart failure symptoms, which include shortness of breath, leg swelling, and fluid retention in the body.
Other symptoms include lightheadedness, rapid heartbeat, palpitation, and fatigue.
Hoffman advised those with a leaky heart valve to undergo daily exercise, avoid smoking, maintain a healthy weight, as well as regular follow-up with a doctor.