The incident was captured on camera.
Nate Bryne, a weather presenter from Australia, recently suffered a panic attack during a broadcast and had to interrupt his morning show. The ABC News Breakfast reporter suddenly stopped speaking in the middle of reading the Queensland weather forecast at around 6:30am local time on Tuesday. The incident was captured on video.
“I have to pause for a moment,” the meteorologist told viewers, struggling to speak. “Some of you may know that I have occasional panic attacks, and that’s what’s happening to me right now,” he added.
In addition, Mr Bryne’s co-host Lisa Millar immediately took over the show. He later returned and apologised to anyone who was upset by his sudden departure. “Thank you to everyone who helped me. Sorry if I scared anyone a bit,” he said.
Brilliantly handled by Nate Byrne and ABC News colleagues pic.twitter.com/aSeM3sFjnS
– Kel (@kellulz) 13 August 2024
In 2022, Mr Bryne spoke about his first panic attack, which he described as “terrifying,” and how it changed his perspective on mental health. “Standing there under the studio lights, talking to people drinking their morning coffee and wiping the sleep from their eyes, my heart was racing, I was gasping for air and sweat was pouring from every pore while my brain screamed ‘RUN!'” the weather presenter wrote.
Recalling the situation, he added that he had “just jogged the 40 metres” from his desk to his spot on the ABC News Breakfast weather wall. “I was a little late and the show control room was worried I wouldn’t make it on time. I managed it and it was hardly an effort. But it was enough to trigger an anxiety problem that I still struggle with to this day,” he said.
A panic attack is particularly characterized by intense physical reactions to everyday, non-threatening events, as well as rapid, temporary feelings of fear. During a panic attack, your heart may race, you may sweat profusely, and have difficulty breathing. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can lead to a heart attack.
These attacks are uncomfortable and can be frightening. They usually last five to 20 minutes. Symptoms often peak within 10 minutes of onset and then subside quickly.
