Football analyst and former West Ham goalkeeper, Shaka Hislop, is conscious and recovering after collapsing on air during a pre-match pitch-side interview before Sunday’s friendly between Real Madrid and AC Milan in California.
Hislop, who is 54 years old, was working as an analyst for US broadcaster ESPN at the time of the incident.
During the interview at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Hislop stumbled and fell face forwards to the ground, prompting immediate concern from his colleague, Dan Thomas, who called for assistance and the channel cut to a commercial break.
While temperatures in California were reported to be around 30C on Sunday, it remains unclear if the heat played a role in Hislop’s collapse.
Watch as ESPN anchor and former soccer star Shaka Hislop collapses on live TV. Hislop was a part of the pro vaccine campaign in sports urging everyone to get vaccinated pic.twitter.com/a0nGCzIYkD
— ??Travis?? (@Travis_in_Flint) July 24, 2023
At half-time, Thomas provided an update on Hislop’s condition, stating, “My mate, Shaka, not here, but as it stands, it’s good news. He’s conscious. He’s talking. I think he’s a little embarrassed about it all. He’s apologised profusely. Not a man who likes people to make a fuss of him.”
Dan Thomas gave an update on Shaka Hislop's condition.
Shaka is "conscious and talking" and has been tended to by medics ? pic.twitter.com/B3mlEsxUfw
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 24, 2023
Thomas also reassured viewers that they had spoken to Hislop’s family to update them on the situation. “Obviously far too early to make any sort of diagnosis, but the important thing is that Shaka’s conscious and we spoke to his family as well, because you imagine seeing that happen live,” he added.