A news reporter suffered the beginnings of a stroke live on air, leaving her struggling to read the teleprompter.
Julie Chin, a reporter with NBC affiliate KJRH of Tulsa, in Oklahoma, was reporting on Nasa’s Artemis I rocket when she became unable to speak.
She later explained on Facebook that it “seemed to have come out of nowhere”, but within minutes she lost partial vision in one eye before her hand and arm went numb.
Chin said she knew she “was in big trouble” when her mouth “would not speak the words that were right in front of [her] on the teleprompter”.
The reporter’s coworkers called 911 and Chin went to the hospital where she underwent tests. Chin revealed that the doctors believe she had the beginnings of a stroke, but not a full stroke.
Although she said “there are still lots of questions”, she reassured her fans that she “should be just fine”.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, according to the NHS.
People suffering from a stroke require urgent treatment, and the sooner they are treated, the less damage is likely to happen.
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.
What are the signs of a stroke?
The signs of a stroke can be remembered with the acronym FAST – face, arms, speech, time. These are the signs to look out for, according to the NHS:
- Face: The face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or an eye may have dropped.
- Arms: The person with a suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm.
- Speech: Their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake. They may also have problems understanding what you’re saying to them.
- Time: It’s time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these symptoms.
