Michael Holley, a sports columnist for The Boston Globe and a contributor to ESPN, required stitches after fainting during a live broadcast on Friday. The incident occurred while Holley, 56, was appearing via satellite on NBC Sports' "Pro Football Talk" with host Mike Florio.
The broadcast was interrupted and cut to a commercial break when Holley, visibly unwell, slid out of his chair and onto the floor. Florio, who has hosted Holley for two years, later provided an update on the reporter's condition, stating that Holley was stable and in good condition despite needing five stitches in his knee from the fall.
Florio explained that Holley had become overheated during the broadcast. According to Florio, Holley had not eaten or had anything to drink before the show, which began at 7 a.m. ET. Holley had joined the program from his home studio, which he mentioned can get very warm. "As he became ill, I was looking at the camera... I noticed Michael moving. I thought that he had again lost his audio. When he slumped to the right and fell out of the view of the screen, I knew something was wrong," Florio wrote on "Pro Football Talk."
The production team immediately attempted to contact Holley's wife as the show went to a commercial break. Holley reportedly began to move within a minute of losing consciousness and later confirmed he was unharmed.
Florio also shared a personal anecdote about a health scare he experienced two years prior during a live episode, emphasizing the importance of having contact information for family members available for remote contributors in case of sudden medical issues. "The lesson learned was a simple one - the control room needs to have phone numbers for family members who can be immediately contacted if a co-host who is contributing from home has a sudden health issue," he wrote.
Televisions studios are often kept at cooler temperatures due to the heat generated by production lighting. Holley was wearing a warmup jacket and did not speak as he lost consciousness on camera. The incident drew parallels to a 2000 TNT broadcast where NFL player Bruce Smith passed out while standing, which was later attributed to the flu and dehydration.